Member Perspective: Working Together to Improve Driver Training

Submitted by Kristin Ries, Dart Transit Company

With a lot of discussion around the need for more truck drivers in this industry, there is an increased focus on driver education. But it’s not just up to truck driving schools to single-handedly source new drivers. Trucking companies play a role in encouraging and educating a new generation of drivers and the Dart Network takes that role to heart.

The Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA) takes its role to heart too, and provides schools and trucking companies a way to connect. The CVTA promotes high quality standards in commercial driver training schools. Its mission is to help schools achieve a level of excellence in driver training – a benefit to any trucking company looking to hire truck drivers.

“The CVTA helps tremendously in ensuring the quality of education students receive,” Dart Transit Company Director of Safety Randy Luckow explains. “The association has brought standards, consistency, and ethics to driver training. Our overall goal is to train students to be the safest, most professional drivers on the road. We know the students who graduate from CVTA member schools will have the building blocks to be safe, well-educated drivers.”

A few reasons why Dart works with the CVTA and its member schools:

Drivers who graduate from CVTA member schools are safety-conscious, above all else.

Member schools work to boost driver professionalism.

Relationships between the schools and trucking companies are built with a mutual goal of creating the safest, most professional drivers on the road.

Teamwork and positive relationships between schools and trucking companies equate to high graduation and placement rates.

Dart has established relationships with schools near its headquarters in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota and Dallas, Texas. Bill Collins, Owner of Interstate Truck Driving School in Minnesota said, “In order to achieve our goal of assisting our students, we work with trucking companies that provide safe and secure employment opportunities. Dart Transit Company is one of a few trucking companies that really step up to provide an infrastructure that results in a seamless transition from the truck driving school environment to a full-time driving position.”

The teamwork, Collins states, is a win-win for both companies. “A unique feature of our working relationship has been to develop a cooperative television advertising campaign to attract qualified individuals interested in the trucking industry. We also have an ongoing relationship with many of our students that have gone to work for Dart. One driver that lives near our school stops by frequently to have a cup of coffee and we always invite him to chat with our students in class. It is very effective to have students meet someone who has gone through training and is now experiencing the benefits of a full time position with a solid, safe company.”

Gary Pressley, President of Heavy Metal Truck Training, also in Minnesota said, “Our relationship with the CVTA and trucking company members is invaluable. It enables us to place our students with organizations that have high levels of integrity and professionalism.”

The relationship with Dart in particular, he said, is strong and mutually beneficial. “Working with an innovative, think-outside-the-box company like Dart provides us with unique opportunities. Many of our students who have gone on to work with Dart have returned to let us know how happy they are with Dart. This gives us great comfort and satisfaction knowing we placed our student with a company that truly cares for their drivers.”

Gary Strube, President of DrivePro, LLC in Texas agrees there are great benefits to working through the CVTA. “I've been a member of CVTA for many years. Over the years I've developed relationships with members like Dart Transit. Recently, I became a new school owner and I can't imagine starting a new school without those relationships I developed.”

Dart not only recruits and employs his school’s graduates, Strube said, they support the school in many other ways, such as letters of support to Workforce Investment Act offices and community colleges.

“In the end,” Luckow said, “we know we’re working with the right people when everyone sees the big picture of creating well-trained drivers no matter what company they end up driving for.”

I was in the scrap metal recycling industry for seven years after I got out of the truck. Worked for a billion dollar publicly traded company. Firty union employees, and two million dollars’ worth of equipment. Many many different personalities. High end to the very low end.

That takes me to the CVTA training courses. The instructor courses are a wonderful teaching and personality tool. I wished I had the tools and knowledge that I obtained through the CVTA’s instructor training course while in other industries.

Getting students to demonstrate competence at necessary skills is a better way to train future truck drivers compared with setting standards for hours logged in classrooms, several driver-training professionals said during a Transport Topics Web broadcast.

“CVTA led the fight against hourly standards [the basis of the 2007 training rule]. Hours trained is not related to safety,” he said. One of Lefeve’s vice presidents also is on the FMCSA advisory committee... Continue reading.

Well you guys must be doing something right because I passed my first shot! A big thank you doesn’t even come close to how I should express it. There isn’t works for my thanks. All of you are incredible teachers and people and I wish I could somehow repay you. Maybe later down the road of success, I wish you all the best.

I personally want to thank all of NETTTS of Pawtucket RI. Office administration department, fortheir friendly professional guidance during my tuition class 3/31/12. I am pleased howinformative and supportive the Job placement department of Duncan and Larry are with theirguidance, recommendations, and due diligence, throughout the application process. The emails,with job placement notification are an extremely helpful tool to all students.

The following e-mail is a follow up to our conversation. Some of the instructors wereexceptional in their day to day interaction. The one most inspirational was the quietest of all hisname is MINOR. Spending time with him learning was an experience in itself at no time did hesay it could not be done. His patients is an attribute to his style of motivation. I spent a longertime with MINOR due to registry appointments that were cancelled. After the appoint wascanceled he would be optimistic and tell me "Just be patient you are ready it will come." Finallythe appointment came and all the practice and determination with support paid off.On 12-1-14 I received my license. Threw out the process there were other individuals that stoodout.

My name is Kenny Newton and I am currently a student atNETTTS. I am writing this letter inregards to the instructors Jessenia and Vinny, I have been thru many classes in the past such asCCRI and Real Estate classes which I obtained my license in five different states. Overall I ampleased with every employee I have come in contact with so far at NETTTS, however I feel Jesseand Vinny deserve a special recognition for all their hard work and dedication they provide inthe classroom.

Within the past five months that I have been catered to at New England Tractor Trailer Training School, I have not only learned a lot or grasped the necessary techniques needed to advance in this field. I have been treated like a family member and the respect shown to me during this time has been next to none experience elsewhere. As I have learned all this is required of me and more to take me feather in life. I'am especially grateful to God for allowing me to choose New England Tractor Trailer Training School for my educational advancement.

T.F. Scott Darling, III was appointed as the Chief Counsel in September 2012 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) by President Obama.

Background

Mr. Darling joined FMCSA from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), the public transit agency serving the greater Boston area, where he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant General Counsel. He also served previously as the MBTA's Environmental and Land Use Counsel as well as its Privacy Administrator. Prior to joining the MBTA, Mr. Darling provided counsel to a number of public and private sector clients on transportation, land-use, housing, and environmental issues.

Education

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Clark University, a Master's degree in Public Policy from Tufts University, and a Juris Doctor's degree from Suffolk University.

Congressman Garret Graves is a Republican Member of Congress representing Louisiana’s Sixth Congressional District. He sits on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, of which he is a member of the Subcommittees on Highways and Transit, Water Resources and the Environment (Vice Chairman), and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. Garret is also a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, where he is assigned to the Subcommittees on Energy and Mineral Resources, and Public Lands and Environmental Regulation.

A Baton Rouge native, Garret grew up in a family of entrepreneurs and small business owners – an environment that held individual responsibility, innovation and a strong work ethic in the highest regard, all which shaped his passion for public service.

Garret’s career in public service began in the Louisiana congressional delegation with Louisiana’s coastal region Congressman Billy Tauzin who chaired the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Garret later worked for Louisiana Senator David Vitter and served on U.S. House and Senate committees focused on civil works, infrastructure, and maritime policies.

Prior to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Garret had served six years on Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s cabinet as Chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA). Concurrently, he worked as a senior policy advisor to the governor on energy, environment, fisheries, and disasters.

During Garret’s tenure, he led one of the state’s most successful government streamlining efforts while guiding the state through three major hurricanes, record flooding on the Mississippi River system and the nation’s worst oil spill, all while managing for the state one of America’s largest civil works projects in history.

Garret restructured the state’s coastal programs (hurricane protection, coastal restoration and community resilience) and consolidated functions that had previously been administered across multiple agencies. This new organization was responsible for an estimated $18 billion in funded projects designed to improve the economic, environmental and community resilience of the state. Under Garret’s leadership, the CPRA developed a national model for an integrated coastal Master Plan designed to integrate infrastructure, environmental and economic needs of the state. The 50-year, $50 billion plan was lauded by industry, environmental, maritime and local leaders. The Louisiana Legislature unanimously approved it.

Famliy

Congressman Graves is a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He and his wife, Carissa, have three children and attend church at the Chapel on the Campus.

Brad Bentley accepted the position of president of the Truckload Carriers Association in October, 2014. Brad has been in and around trucking for more than 25 years. Prior to joining TCA, Brad was the editorial director for Randall-Reilly Recruiting Media where he developed content for nine monthly magazines and interviewed numerous industry leaders. Brad has served on several industry committees and also participates personally on many trucking image initiatives, such as, U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, Wreaths Across America and the Mike O’Connell Memorial Trucking’s Top Rookie award. He has also been recognized for his writing skills as a 19-time winner of the Communicator Award presented by Truck Writers of North America. Brad is a graduate of University of Alabama with a BA in communications. Brad continues to be an avid fan and supporter of his alma mater and frequents as many sporting events as possible – Roll Tide!

On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (“WIOA”), which reauthorized and improved the Workforce Investment Act (“WIA”). WIOA funding will now go towards occupations that are considered “in-demand” by the state. Each state will conduct market analyses to determine what occupations are currently “in-demand.” Unless truck driving is considered an “in-demand” occupation by your state, students will not be allowed to access WIOA grants to attend commercial driver training and the driver shortage will increase.

Click on the link below, fill in your information, and send the pre-drafted emails to your Governor, your state representatives, and your members of congress. link (Please note that the International Food Distributors Association is kindly providing the grassroots portal, so do not worry when your website directs you to this their website);

Reach out to your local WIOA contact to make sure that they know the importance of making trucking an “in-demand” profession. Invite them to tour your school so that they can better understand how our industry trains, recruits, and hires.

Thank you for your help. It is critical to our membership and our industry.

Craig Jablonski is the CEO of Career Now Brands, a performance-based marketing company. Career Now is a high quality lead provider for a multitude of education and trade programs across the nation. Brands include a diverse array of platforms including CDL, Cosmetology, Mechanic, Culinary and more, all carrying the Career Now banner.

Craig's expertise lies within the digital space. Everything from website development, search engine optimization, paid search, social media and beyond. Craig is a hands-on marketer whose goal is always to capture the interest of his target audience.

Craig is also a Partner in IncWell LP, a venture capital firm based in Detroit, MI. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from Western Michigan University.

Jonathan Eisen is Senior Vice President, Government Relations at the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) in McLean, Virginia heading the association’s government relations efforts on behalf of the foodservice distribution industry. He serves as the lead lobbyist for the association representing the industry before legislators and regulators on a variety of issues including workplace, tax, transportation, food safety and healthcare. Eisen also serves at Treasurer of IFDAPAC. He joined the Government Relations Department of IFDA’s predecessor group, Food Distributors International in 1994. Prior to joining FDI, he worked for a private lobbying firm in Washington.

Jon is a graduate of Emory University, and lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and two sons.

As far as federal government acronyms go, ELDTAC is standard issue and unwieldy. Many in trucking, however, are hopeful that those six letters will help spell out a long-overdue driver training standard—and might even lead the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) toward a user-friendly revamp of the way regulations are developed.

ELDTAC stands for the Entry-Level Driver Training Advisory Committee, and its members have been recently chosen by FMCSA from a field of experts in their respective fields, including motor carriers, drivers, DMV training organizations, state enforcement agencies, labor unions, and safety advocacy groups.

......

Don Lefeve, president of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, says now that the basics are out of the way, the committee must “roll up their sleeves and get down to work.”

“I believe the participants understand the tough task ahead and realize that we need to produce a rule,” Lefeve said. “While there are many challenges which lie ahead, the first session ended on a positive note. I remain optimistic the committee will be able to produce a rule by the end of May... Continue reading.

CDL school helps America’s veterans get behind the wheel of the big rigs.

Back in 2013 I wrote about a veteran, Matt Sanchez, who was enrolled at the National Tractor Trailer School (NTTS) in Buffalo, N.Y. This month I followed up with NTTS President and Co-Founder Harry Kowalchyk, a former Marine corporal. “Since myself and fellow co-founder William Mocarski (also a former Marine corporal) established NTTS in 1971, we knew it was important to recruit veterans, active duty members transitioning to civilian life, and dependents of current service members. They are proven, well-disciplined operators that are doing very well in our programs.” NTTS has a high graduation rate, and, more importantly, a high employment rate for graduates. Between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013, 91 percent of NTTS graduates got jobs in the trucking industry. Kowalchyk attributes this to the network at NTTS... Download the full article in PDF

"On Tuesday, Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) introduced legislation aimed at establishing training requirements for commercial drivers in California. SB 344 requires those seeking a commercial driver’s license to complete a course of instruction from a commercial driving institution before they can be issued a license by the DMV and removes a cost exemption that currently enables CDL mills to avoid regulation.

“CVTA believes this legislation is a positive first step in establishing minimum driver training requirements in California. We believe, however, there are parts which can be strengthened as the legislative process unfolds. Specifically, we believe that the minimum training standards should be uniform for both schools and carriers. We look forward to working with Senator Monning and others to help improve driver training in California.”

New Orleans, LA, May 6-8, 2015

It is time to register for our 2015 Spring Conference in New Orleans. The Hyatt French Quarter New Orleans hotel will be hosting our event from May 6 to May 8, 2015. In addition to guest speakers and networking opportunities, we look forward to hearing your input on the issues of the day. We will be discussing current events and developments in the industry, legislative and regulatory issues on Capitol Hill, and new and upcoming programs from CVTA.

Our very popular golf tournament will now be held after the Conference on Friday afternoon May 8th!

The early-bird registration deadline is April 2, 2015, so don't delay today!

Speakers & Panels

Garret GravesRepresentativeLouisiana’s Sixth Congressional District

Congressman Garret Graves is a Republican Member of Congress representing Louisiana’s Sixth Congressional District. He sits on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, of which he is a member of the Subcommittees on Highways and Transit, Water Resources and the Environment (Vice Chairman), and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. Garret is also a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, where he is assigned to the Subcommittees on Energy and Mineral Resources, and Public Lands and Environmental Regulation... Continue reading.

T.F. Scott Darling, III was appointed as the Chief Counsel in September 2012 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) by President Obama.

Mr. Darling joined FMCSA from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), the public transit agency serving the greater Boston area, where he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant General Counsel. He also served previously as the MBTA's Environmental and Land Use Counsel... Continue reading.

Hotel Overview - Hyatt French Quarter New Orleans

Laissez le bon temps rouler (Let the good times roll) at the fully restored and completely renovated Hyatt French Quarter New Orleans. Renowned as one of the landmark hotels of the French Quarter, its luxury accommodations are located near the famed Bourbon Street and is within walking distance of this grand city’s most popular attractions. The CVTA room rate is $173.00 per night. The cutt off date for this discounted rate is April 2, 2015. Make your reservation today!

Golf Tournament - 12:30 PM, Friday, May 8, 2015

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION – April 6, 2015

If you want to wind down after the meeting, please join us for an informal golf outing at the beautiful TPC Louisiana. Bringing championship golf to the vibrant charm of New Orleans, the TPC Louisiana Golf Course is as unique as the celebrated city itself. Legendary architect Pete Dye designed the golf course with the collaboration of fellow PGA TOUR players Steve Elkington and New Orleans native Kelly Gibson. This golf course is the perfect complement to the local ambiance.

The golf course features a challenging landscape of lush wetlands and native cypress trees that lie just across the great Mississippi River. TPC Louisiana is part of the Audubon Golf Trail and a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary program.

We plan to board the bus outside the lobby at 12:30 Friday with staggered start times on the front and back starting at 1:00 PM. We will provide a box lunch for you to take on the bus. After the game, we will transport you back to the hotel in time for dinner.

On Feb. 10, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced the list of industry participants for the Entry-Level Driver Training Advisory Committee. The first meeting will take place later this month. Stakeholders will gather around a table, discuss various ideas to establish minimum training requirements for future drivers and then attempt to write the regulation for these requirements. This process is called a negotiated rulemaking.

In this negotiated rulemaking, FMCSA selected 26 individuals representing various industries that are connected to trucking, including the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, to “negotiate” a proposed regulation. The other participants are made up of schools, trucking associations, bus associations, safety groups, enforcement groups, unions and a large carrier and an owner-operator. This diverse group has the challenge of formulating regulations surrounding entry-level training standards.

It will focus on the following topics:

Development of minimum training requirements for individuals applying for a commercial driver license for the first time or upgrading from one class of CDL to another.

Determining the amount of behind-the-wheel training and classroom instruction.

Gathering and providing data to quantify the costs and safety benefits of training.

Washington, D.C. - Commercial Vehicle Training Association's (CVTA) President and CEO Don Lefeve released the following statement after CVTA was appointed to the Entry-Level Driver Training Advisory Committee:

"The Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA) is honored to have been appointed to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) newly formed Entry-Level Driver Training Advisory Committee (ELDTAC). As the largest trade association representing truck driving schools, our members understand the importance of developing minimum training standards for entry-level drivers.

"Our industry has the great opportunity to implement training standards, and I am optimistic that the committee will achieve success. CVTA has long believed that training should be mandatory and that it should be performance based. We look forward to working with other members on the ELDTAC to help develop a rule that makes sense, develops standards, and improves safety."

Washington, D.C. - Commercial Vehicle Training Association's (CVTA) President and CEO Don Lefeve released the following statement on the President's 2016 Budget Request:

"CVTA commends the President's Budget for recognizing the important role Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grants play in enabling Americans to acquire the skills necessary to obtain good paying jobs. WIOA grants are a critical source of funding which help individuals afford the schooling and high quality training needed to become a professional truck driver. We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress in the coming months to ensure that WIOA is fully funded and more Americans are able to receive the training they seek from CVTA schools.

"While we work on the federal level, we are also focused on helping Governors and Workforce officials better understand the impact that the current driver shortage is having on the economy, both locally and nationally, and the importance WIOA grants can play addressing the shortage by supporting Americans looking to secure commercial driver training.

"CVTA is committed to policies which enable students to receive funding to attend school, and we are equally committed to addressing policies which prevent students from entering the workforce in a timely fashion."

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Roadmaster Drivers School, which trains men and women to become licensed to drive Class A CDL vehicles in the in-demand professional trucking industry, has just opened a new location in Bethlehem.

This latest Roadmaster school, located just off Route 22 near Dutch Springs Aqua Park at 4219 Fritch Drive in Bethlehem, marks the company’s 13th in the U.S.

According to Holli Hudson, VP of Marketing for Roadmaster, “We’re really excited about this particular location because we’re finally able to bring our national reputation for quality CDL training to the Northeast. Men and women from all over the region — from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware — now have a nearby option for training with us and earning a career in Trucking... Continue reading.

The trucking industry’s driver shortage remains an important and virtually insoluble problem.

In a survey conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute, trucking company owners and drivers ranked the shortage as the third most important problem faced by the industry. “If you eliminate responses from drivers – who don’t think the driver shortage is a problem – and count only responses from owners, the driver shortage is the industry’s top problem,” says Rebecca Brewster, president of ATRI.

And it is getting worse. According to American Trucking Associations’ Chief Economist Bob Costello, the industry today needs 30,000 more drivers. “As the industry starts to haul more because demand goes up, we’ll need to add more drivers – nearly 100,000 annually over the next decade – in order to keep pace.”

At current rates of recruitment, Costello estimates that the industry shortage may reach 239,000 drivers by 2022.

How do trucking firms crank up the rate of driver recruitment? The entire industry is working on the question – individual firms, driving schools, technology and truck vendors and groups are working to improve the image of the industry and its drivers.

Solutions include more aggressive recruiting through advertising, social media and visiting high schools; increasing funding and reimbursement solutions for driver training; changing the nature of the job with technologies that make driving and recordkeeping easier; fixing the turnover problem with improved retention programs; and industry image improvement programs.

More Aggressive Recruitment

Driver training schools, perhaps the industry’s most experienced recruiters, attract prospects through television and social media advertising. They tend to use less print advertising than in the pre-Internet era.

“Our biggest challenge is the industry’s image,” says Jill Balleh, president of CDS Tractor Trailer Training, a driver school with locations in Woodford, Va., and at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, Va. “We are missing women and 20-something men and women.

“We should be talking to 18-year-olds in high school about careers in trucking that pay good wages. An 18-year-old may not be able to drive for a while. He or she may work in the office or the shop in the beginning. We have to talk to young people earlier. By the time the reach 25, it’s too late. They already have a career.”

“The Internet is today’s communication medium,” says Joey Hogan, president of Covenant Transport, a truckload carrier based in Chattanooga, Tenn. “Young potential drivers use some form of Internet communication – email, social media, instant messaging or texting. We used to spend thousands of dollars on print advertising, but we don’t do that anymore. Today, it is the Internet.”

Recruiting Military Drivers

As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan come to an end, military truck drivers and heavy equipment operators are filtering into the workforce and looking for jobs. Trucking firms are developing programs to recruit ex-military drivers as civilian truck drivers.

“With hundreds of terminals across the United States, we have a strong presence of veterans already in our workforce, and we look forward to bringing more former military personnel into the YRC Freight and Holland families,” says James Welch, YRC Worldwide CEO.

The YRC program is using FASTPORT’s JobMaps technology to recruit drivers. JobMaps shows prospective recruits a mapped picture of the positions that fit their experiences and pass by their hometowns. The application also sorts available positions and lists those that best fit individuals.

Using FASTPORT, companies can place maps showing available positions on their websites, enabling prospective drivers to browse current postings.

The federal government is also easing the transition for veterans with military driving experience to civilian commercial driver’s licenses. “Those who drove while in the service can get their CDL, but they drove automatics in the service,” observes John Diab, chairman of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, with 200 member driving schools across the country. “So they will have a restriction on their CDL and will have to enroll in a school or receive carrier training to modify the restriction.”

Paying For Training

As you recruit new drivers, you also have to train them – yourself or through driving schools. That, of course, is expensive.

It’s a problem that affects all industries, including trucking. According to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, the United States will need 4.3 million more workers with postsecondary vocational certificates, some college credits or an associate’s degree by 2022.

To help pay for this training – and for the 6.8 million workers who will need bachelor’s degrees by 2022, Congress enacted the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act by a large bipartisan majority in July, and President Obama signed it into law on July 22.

CVTA strongly supports WIOA. “CVTA applauds the bipartisan efforts of Congress to enact WIOA,” says Don Lefeve, president and CEO of CVTA. “We believe this legislation will, in part, help alleviate some of this shortage.”

Among numerous provisions, WIOA supports access to workforce development opportunities in a number of ways, including on-the-job, incumbent worker and customized training programs. It would also enable businesses to identify in-demand skills and connect workers with opportunities to build those skills. Truck driving is considered an in-demand skill.

“Still, by linking jobs to in-demand occupations, WIOA will help trucking,” Lefeve says. “And we’re doing all we can to let state boards know that there is a real demand for drivers and a need for resources to help meet the demand.”

Change the Driving Job

For years now, trucking industry professionals have talked about how tough it is to drive a truck for a living. Maneuvering an 80,000-pound rig on an interstate and around a terminal requires skill and concentration. Keeping accurate records related to shipments and hours of service adds to the burden. Then, of course, truckload drivers must spend days and weeks on the road and away from home.

Together, these issues discourage potential drivers. Some truckload firms are responding by altering schedules to bring drivers home at least once a week.

While it appears to be taking current drivers a while to get used to electronic on-board recorders, new drivers will find automated logs easy to use and will never have to worry about the details of manual log-keeping.

Likewise, electronic dispatching with tablets and other devices makes it easier to receive and log load assignments. GPS systems help drivers navigate around traffic problems. Blindside cameras make maneuvering easier and safer.

A recent story in the ATA’s Transport Topics noted that some fleets are boosting the use of automatic transmissions to make driving easier and to help attract drivers. According to the article, fleet managers estimate that 47 percent of their trucks will have automated manual and fully automatic transmissions by 2015, up from 38 percent of trucks this year.

“Automatic transmissions have been around for 10 years or so,” says Hogan. “In the last two or three years, the technology has grown more stable, more reliable and less maintenance intensive. That’s why some carriers are growing automatic fleets.

“Still, these are going to be higher cost fleets, and that will be a consideration for some carriers.”

When You Find Drivers, Keep Them

Driver turnover continues to be problematic, especially for large truckload carriers. According to ATA’s Costello, the driver turnover rate in the fourth quarter of 2013 was 91 percent and had remained over 90 percent for eight straight quarters.

“We saw turnover at fleets with at least $30 million in annual revenue bottom out near 50 percent at the depths of the Great Recession and increase steadily since,” Costello says. “The rate appears to have flattened out at an elevated level for the moment. However, it could easily increase as tightness in the labor pool should continue and even worsen as the economy improves.”

The less-than-truckload industry has a completely different turnover profile. In the fourth quarter of 2013, turnover in that segment fell two points to 11 percent.

Given the fact that less-than-truckload drivers cover regional routes and spend most nights at home, the significant difference in turnover rates suggests that long periods away from home is a key problem that truckload carriers will need to address to retain drivers.

Carriers with retention programs point to driver pay, more time at home and benefits, including health and wellness, as important retention tools. In addition, carriers say that creating a career path that will eventually enable drivers to move out of the cab and into an office can help with retention.

Improving the Image of Drivers and Trucking

While individual carriers must take steps to attract and retain drivers, the industry as a whole has a role to play. For instance, Trucking Moves America Forward was created by industry groups to improve the industry’s image and make it easier to attract drivers and other workers to trucking.

“As an industry, we are being challenged on many levels, and a number of industry groups have come together to form Trucking Moves America Forward,” says Elisabeth Barna, vice president, image and outreach advocacy, with ATA and a member of the executive committee of Trucking Moves America Forward. “Our mission is to establish an industry-wide movement to create a positive image for trucking, to educate policy makers and the public about the importance of trucking to the economy and to build political and grass roots support.

“We also have an internal campaign to build pride in our industry. We do this by talking about the value that every job has – drivers, technicians, IT people, dispatchers and others. All of these jobs have value to the economy and we should take pride in them.”

In the end, the need for drivers – and other trucking industry personnel – is an industry problem. And industry action must form part of the solution.

The Driver Shortage In Atlanta

The driver shortage looks bad when considered nationally, but it’s even worse at the company level. Recent news reports have noted that some trucking firms have had to begin parking trucks and turning away business for lack of drivers.

It hasn’t come to that at Atlanta-based Atlas Logistics, but it is still a troublesome problem. “I would rank the driver shortage as our number one problem as a company,” says Walter Middlebrook, Atlas’s transportation and safety manager.

Atlas operates 119 tractors and more than 645 tractors to take care of a single customer – Kroger. Atlas transports frozen products, produce, dry goods and beverages to Kroger stores located throughout the region. The company’s 115 drivers make it home almost every night.

While regional trucking firms have an advantage in recruiting drivers over long haul firms, Middlebrook says the driver shortage continues to get worse, thanks to two Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration programs. They are the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program and the Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP).

“These are two of the best programs for making sure that companies and drivers are safe,” Middlebrook says. “But it does make the shortage more difficult to deal with.”

Additional recruiting difficulties arise from the fact that Kroger supermarkets are open all day every day. In turn, the truck drivers who haul Kroger’s goods must work all day every day, including weekends and holidays.

Atlas recruits by word of mouth, local newspaper advertising and on the company website. The company has also hired an outside recruitment agency that specializes in trucking and transportation personnel.

“In addition, we’re developing a program to hire veterans,” Middlebrook says. “We ask for two years of experience. Veterans may not have that much experience, but it is definitely a pool we need to be sampling.”

Atlas is also turning to technology to make drivers’ jobs less burdensome. The company uses PeopleNet onboard technology. “When drivers learn it, they like it, and that has helped make our CSA scores excellent,” “Middlebrook says.

Another technology Atlas has decided to test is automatic truck transmissions. “We just got a test unit, and our driver trainers are road testing it,” Middlebrook says. “They are veteran drivers, and at first they didn’t like the idea, but today, you can’t get them out of the cabin. They love it.”

In the end, that’s how trucking firms can successfully recruit and retain drivers: give them a job they can love.

Sandra McCoskey from Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona alerted us to the fact that Michael Hays is calling schools purportedly as a representative from US Trucks. Please read below message from Sandra and make sure not to provide him with any information.

"We want to alert NAPFTDS to a telephone recruitment scam that came into our office on Monday. This same person has run this same scam randomly over the past two years. The caller identifies himself as Michael Hays, using US Trucks as his company (this latest call, has used Covenant also). He asks our advisor to have students call him. When they call he tells them about the great opportunities and ask them to COD money as good faith deposit, and funds to travel (arrangements to be made by him). The latest phone number is 215-481-5382."

On Wednesday, December 10, 2014, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a Notice of Intent to start building an Entry Level Driver Training Advisory Committee (ELDTAC). The Committee will include representatives of various groups with interests that are affected by the proposed regulations being introduced for entry level driver training. This notice also provides notice to those groups and interested parties that wish to participate to be put on the list of possible nominees to serve. It also requests comments on the proposal itself, as well as those who may serve on the Committee.

Comments and nominations for possible Committee members must be received by January 9, 2015. For more information about how to submit comments, or to read the full Notice, please click on the link below:

“Truck Driver Institute has trained a significant number of driver candidates from Africa, the Middle East and Europe,” said Herrin, whose company has 12 school locations. Along with the increase in immigrants, more women and couples are enrolled as well, he said.

Robert Synowicki, executive vice president of Werner Enterprises, told TT, “We are hiring more women today and hiring more drivers from more ethnic groups” as the population of white males declines. Synowicki said the number of women has virtually doubled to around 10%... Continue reading.

Washington, DC - Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) welcomed the 12 Republican Members who will join the Committee in the 114th Congress, including two Members elected to their third terms in Congress and ten freshmen.

“I am pleased to welcome these new Republican additions to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the 114th Congress,” Shuster said. “The Committee will have a full agenda next year, including reauthorizations of federal surface transportation, aviation, and passenger rail programs. The added perspectives and ideas of our new Members will be an asset to our experienced team as we continue developing legislation that strengthens our infrastructure and makes America more competitive.”

The new Committee Members recommended by the House Republican Steering Committee and expected to be officially approved by the Republican Conference in January are (in order of seniority):

U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall of Georgia
U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita of Indiana
U.S. Rep. John Katko of New York
U.S. Rep. Brian Babin of Texas
U.S. Rep. Cresent Hardy of Nevada
U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania
U.S. Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana
U.S. Rep. Mimi Walters of California
U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock of Virginia
U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida
U.S. Rep. David Rouzer of North Carolina
U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York

These new Committee Members will join the following returning Republican Members of the Committee:

U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania, Chairman
U.S. Rep. Don Young of Alaska
U.S. Rep. John, J. Duncan, Jr. of Tennessee
U.S. Rep. John Mica of Florida
U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey
U.S. Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri
U.S. Rep. Candice Miller of Michigan
U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter of California
U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas
U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania
U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold of Texas
U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs of Ohio
U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna of New York
U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster of Florida
U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham of California
U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble of Wisconsin
U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky
U.S. Rep. Tom Rice of South Carolina
U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina
U.S. Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois
U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford of South Carolina

Interstate Truck Driving School hosted officials from Federal, State, and local agencies today to shed light on the strong demand for truck drivers creating significant job opportunities for thousands of people. Bill Collins, owner of Interstate Truck Driving School, invited representatives from Senator Franken’s office to let him know how successful the federal Workforce Investment funds are at assisting people to obtain employment with livable wages. Senator Franken has worked very hard to represent the middle class and Mr. Collins wanted to reach out to the Senator and thank him for his commitment to hard working people.

Dan Solomon, Field Representative and Matt Croaston, Constituent Service Representative from Senator Al Franken’s office were in attendance along with South St. Paul Mayor Beth Baumann. Deb Carlson, Driver Exam Program Manager, and Don Hoechst, Driver Education Coordinator from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety were also able to attend.

Brian Schafer from Schneider National was meeting with about 30 students explaining job opportunities with Schneider when the group visited. Collins gave the group a tour of his facility and showed off the latest technology utilized by Interstate Truck Driving School with a very sophisticated Truck Driving Simulator from Advanced Training Systems in Tampa Florida.

“I am grateful to see so many public agencies working hand in hand with the private sector toward a common good” Collins commented to the group. Bill will be reaching out to other state and federal officials in the future to keep the communication lines open and continue to provide job opportunities for Minnesotans.

Werner’s Operation Freedom Program operates a growing fleet of Freedom Trucks. There are currently five Freedom Trucks running the fleet from coast to coast. These Freedom Trucks are wrapped with a military themed message and are driven by select, seasoned professional Werner drivers who are military veterans or family members of veterans. These trucks operate daily pulling freight as well as attending truck shows, hiring, recruiting, and military appreciation events. Freedom trucks also visit our partner schools to get eyes on Werner Equipment and share the Werner driver experience.

The Freedom Trucks reach out to support our veterans, drivers, and Werner’s Apprenticeship Program that offers the opportunity for veterans to receive up to $13.891 of VA education benefits in twelve tax-free payments. Werner’s Apprenticeship Program also offers reimbursement of VA education benefits spent for CDL training at $100 per month not to exceed $7,500.

Kendis Paris, Executive Director of Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) asked that we forward the following information to you:

Bertram Doughtery is fraudulently selling t-shirts using TAT's copyrighted material claiming he is representing TAT which he is not. He has created multiple FB profiles including one called Tat Tat in an effort to link himself to our organization. He is doing the same scam misrepresenting himself as a representative of Remembering Fallen Truckers. Do not be fooled by this. Any t-shirt we have available will be promoted through our website and social media outlets and NOT by a third party. We do not even know if he is sending the t-shirts out to customers after they have paid him. He has multiple sites up fundraising for himself personally. Our legal team is looking into this as we speak.

We appreciate our followers and our kind trucker friends for alerting us to this repeatedly over the last couple of days. We appreciate your desire to maintain the integrity of TAT's name, reputation and mission.

More than 70 percent of truck drivers today own smartphones, tablets and wireless subscriptions. This widespread connectivity among drivers as well as office employees creates many opportunities for transportation companies to mobilize their information systems.

In 2011, U.S. Xpress (CCJ Top 250, No. 12) started development of a mobile app for drivers. Today, more than 5,400 of its drivers and owner operators, including those who work for its affiliate companies, are using their personal devices to connect with time-sensitive dispatch information and perform other routine work functions.

Drivers are introduced to Xpress Mobile during new driver orientation training classes. U.S. Xpress also promotes the app internally with posters and with the Xpress Mobile charging stations that drivers use inside company facilities.

Drivers can download the app to their Android and iOS devices from the Google Play and the Apple App Store. After a quick registration process to verify the driver is active in U.S. Xpress’ host system, the mobile app is synced up and ready for use.

With Xpress Mobile, drivers can view current load information and upcoming assignments, accept load offerings, and perform all other routine communications. New information comes through as notification alerts to capture their attention... Continue reading.

Need a job? Duffy talks jobs with Roehl Transport

MARSHFIELD – Roehl Transport Inc. hosted U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wausau, at an event with employees to showcase the company's truck driving school from which graduates are hired for jobs with $45,000 starting salaries.

The company has 200 openings for Wisconsin truck drivers but is having difficulties finding applicants for positions, said Jason Zaleski, Roehl CDL School development manager. Roehl Transport Inc. is based in Marshfield and hauls freight across the nation.

"We've needed to go to other cities and states" to solicit applicants for the truck-driving school, Zaleski said.

The truck driving career can necessitate being on the road for a week to up to 10 days, which discourages some from applying, he said... Continue reading...

Peggy from Coastal College in Hammond alerted us to the fact that Michael Greene is calling schools purportedly as a representative from McElroy Truck Lines. Mr. Green is asking for a list of student names and phone numbers. He is a scam artist and not associated with McElroy Truck Lines.

The contact number he provided is 610-278-2923. This is a false number.

Michael Greene stated that he was from Pennsylvania, however we have had problems with him before. He is a repeat-offender scam artist.

Please do not provide him with any information. Thank you to Peggy from Coastal College and Craig Voineag

Mike Hanisch is an executive with over 27+ years experience in recruiting, safety and retention consultation. Mike’s innovation created Tenstreet’s flagship solution IntelliApp; which streamlined, optimized and assisted an under-served need for recruiting within the transportation industry. Mike’s fortitude and entrepreneurial spirit led to additional solutions such as Xchange and Xpress, which helped companies connect using efficient software solutions that maximize time, money and labor resources. Today, Mike continues to set groundbreaking initiatives for Tenstreet by listening to his clients, having an awareness for the market and promoting his expertise in helping companies hire better drivers faster.

“Del Mar College is able to enhance their training opportunities to include more students participating in their truck driver training program by repurposing seized vehicles into useable equipment for educational advancements,” said Cmdr. Guillermo “Willie” Vera with the City of Kingsville Task Force. “And, the Training and Development Agreement between the City of Kingsville Specialized Crimes & Narcotics Task Force and the College is beneficial for both entities and the communities we serve.”

Cmdr. Vera noted that Kingsville city employees can utilize CDL (Commercial Drivers License) training offered by Del Mar College at minimal cost to the city’s budget, thus saving Kingsville approximately $2,800 per student.

"Yesterday, the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) announced Brad Bentley as their new President. Having worked with Brad as a member of CVTA over the past year, I know he is the right person to lead TCA at this important time for the trucking industry. Brad is fantastic choice and we congratulate him on his appointment. He has done great work at Randall Reilly Publishing, particularly in developing the Mike O’Connell Memorial Trucking’s Top Rookie program. From all of us at CVTA, we wish him great success and look forward to continue working with Brad to advance the trucking industry.”

This year's Wreath Across America Gala raised over $250,000. 2014 marks the 150th anniversary of Arlington National Cemetery and this year the goal is to place a wreath on every headstone in Arlington National Cemetery as well as military cemeteries throughout the US. CVTA has been an active supporter of WAA for the last three years.

Congressman Louie Gohmert visited the site of the International Schools/Texas State Technical College professional driving training Thursday.

During his visit, Gohmert met with Larry Hobgood, president of the International Schools, and the executive staff for the overview of organization, training programs and results of after participants finish the programs.

Gohmert listened with interest as various representatives explained the aspects of the training, and wanted to find out more about the funding process.

International Schools is a semi truck-driving training school that began in 1993 in Sunland Park, N.M. Hobgood told Gohmert that the program overall, including the Marshall site, had trained more than 28,000 drivers and placed them in jobs in the industry since 1993.

“The availability of funding to train qualified individuals is a key factor in the success of the program,” Hobgood said. “Most of the individuals in our program are not able to pay for the training or even qualify for financing... Continue reading.

The trucking industry is responsible for transporting more than 67% of the nation’s freight (by weight). Whether the freight is fresh produce, lifesaving medicines, auto parts, farm machinery or the latest tech gadget, nearly everything we buy has been hauled on a truck.

Additionally, almost 7 million people across the United States are employed in jobs that are directly or indirectly involved with trucking.

Trucking is critical to the sustainability of nearly all businesses and the U.S. economy. However, as an industry and a country... Continue reading.

Elizabethtown, KY (Aug. 27, 2014) – On August 27, 2014, Congressman Brett Guthrie visited CDL Training Services & Consulting Truck Driving School, a professional driving school focusing on commercial truck driver training, and met with Jeff Bauza, President of CDL Training Services & Consulting, his staff, trucking company representatives; Latasha Neal VP of Recruiting for US Xpress, Duane Boswell VP of Driver Recruiting for TMC Transportation, Jason Zaleski Driver Capacity Manger for Roehl Transport, and Tony Bennett Director of Driver Recruiting for PTL along with Don Lefeve, President of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA). The Congressman had the opportunity to meet with instructors, learn firsthand about the importance of truck driving school training, and gained a more comprehensive understanding of the crucial role the trucking industry plays in driving the economy forward.

“I was very pleased that Congressman Guthrie came to visit our campus to see our instructors and our students in action,” said Jeff Bauza. “We take pride in training students who, after graduating from our schools, are able to get good jobs and support our economy here in Kentucky. We instill the highest safety standards and provide our students with top-notch training. I was glad the Congressman had the chance to see some of that in person and actually participate in driving a truck on our range.”

OMAHA (KPTM)- A national truck driver shortage could have a devastating impact on how people buy food, gas and other supplies according to experts.

“If we don't have trucks, you're going to find shortages of food, water, everything that we depend on daily,” said Larry Marsh. Marsh is an instructor at JTL Truck Driver Training.

Computers, cars, gasoline, food, and medical supplies are just a couple of things that are transported by truck drivers, according to Larry Marsh.

Marsh said the United States is in the middle of a truck driver shortage that is only expected to get worse. Currently, there is a need for around 30,000 truck drivers. According to Marsh, in the next ten years, the United States will need around 200,000 truck drivers.

“It's just every week, there's two or three companies calling in a panic wondering where they're going to find drivers,” said Marsh.

Marsh said there aren't as many young people choosing truck driving as an occupation and thousands of truck drivers are nearing retirement age... Continue reading.

Inver Grove Heights, MN (Aug. 13, 2014) - Today, Minnesota Congressman John Kline (R-D2) visited Heavy Metal Truck Training, a professional truck driving school focusing in commercial driver training Inver Grove Heights, MN, and met with school leaders, students and representatives from the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA). The Congressman and members of his staff were able to see firsthand the important role truck driving schools play in training the next generation of truck drivers and how critical legislation like the recently signed Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is in helping meet the growing needs of in-demand industries like commercial truck driving.

Congressman Kline, who is Chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee and a key author of WIOA law, was welcomed by Gary Pressley, President of Heavy Metal Truck Training leadership, Don Lefeve, President of CVTA, and CVTA’s Chairman John Diab. The Congressman was given a campus tour, had the opportunity to engage with students and instructors, observe driver trainees in action, and learned more about how critical WIOA is to helping unemployed and underemployed Minnesotans receive the assistance needed to enter quality truck driving institutions.

“It was an honor to welcome Congressman John Kline to our campus and talk about the workforce issues facing our industry,” said Gary Pressley, CEO and Admissions Director, Heavy Metal Truck Training. “We enjoyed giving him a campus tour, allowing him to see what our instructors do every day, and discussing the range of employment opportunities open to our students and our indispensable relationships with the local WIA offices. It is our goal to help our students succeed and we are thrilled to help put Minnesotans to work in an industry that is facing a shortage of qualified drivers.”

The United States is currently facing a driver shortage that is estimated to grow to over 230,000 by 2022. WIOA is designed to recognize in-demand professions, like truck driving, and ensure they are able to receive and appropriately leverage more workforce funding. If successful, it will help stem the driver shortage and meet the growing needs of carriers across the country.

“CVTA is pleased that Chairman Kline chose to visit Heavy Metal Truck Training to see firsthand the key role CVTA schools play in training and placing students in high quality truck driving jobs,” said Don Lefeve, President and CEO, CVTA. “We believe trucking will continue to be an in-demand industry, as our current members are seeing increased interest from carriers for drivers. Trucking is a solid career that cannot be outsourced, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Chairman to ensure we are doing everything we can to support new generations of truck drivers.”

Congressman Kline spent received instruction for pre-trip inspections, proper entry and exit of a truck, and shifting patterns. He also had the chance to talk with school officials and industry leaders about the legislative challenges and roadblocks facing schools trying to train and place drivers in highly need truck driving jobs.

“Commercial truck driving is one of so many industries that need a more efficient, effective, and accountable workforce development system and I was pleased to help champion bipartisan legislation that empowers state and local job training leaders to tailor services to their region’s employment and workforce needs,” said Kline. “The job training reform recently signed into law will help Minnesotans find good-paying jobs by improving existing federal workforce development programs and fostering the modern workforce businesses in this state and across the country rely on to compete.”

About Heavy Metal Truck Training: Heavy Metal Truck Driver Training is the Upper Midwest’s fastest growing, most affordable truck driving school. They are a Minnesota state-licensed truck driving school and an approved and certified training provider for WIA Programs, The Dislocated Workers Program, TAA (Trade Adjustment Act) Programs, and other federal and state programs through the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

About CVTA: The Commercial Vehicle Training Association is the largest trade association representing the interest of truck driving schools, students, carriers, and other businesses that depend on their services. CVTA school members have 180 school locations in 41 states and graduate approximately 50,000 students annually.

On July 23, 2014, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3136, the Advancing Competency-Based Education Demonstration Project Act of 2013, by a vote of 414-0. This legislation now heads to the Senate. This legislation directs the Secretary of Education to select up to 20 institutions of higher education (IHEs) to voluntary participate in Competency-Based Education Demonstration Programs ("Program") which offer competency-based education that does not meet current statutory and regulatory requirements that would otherwise prevent them from participating in federal student aid programs.

The bill defines "competency-based education" as an education process that is characterized by the direct assessment and measurement of student learning instead of, or in addition to, measuring students' credit or clock hours. To be eligible to participate in a Program, institutions must be eligible to participate in title IV programs or have been approved by the Secretary to offer programs that measure student learning through direct assessments rather than credit or clock hours. It also requires Program applicants to provide the Secretary with a description of the statutory and regulatory requirements they would like waived and the reasons for seeking each waiver.

House Education & Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline issued a statement on the bill's passage. Please click here to see his statement. For more information, please visit: experimentalsites.ed.gov/exp.

President Obama signed into law a measure that provides new funding for job training and encourages local and state agencies and schools to work with employers to train workers for jobs in transportation and logistics and other industries.

Trucking leaders offered praise for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which drew support from Democrats and Republicans in Congress.

“This law helps ensure workers can obtain training funds to enter in-demand professions like commercial truck driving,” said Don Lefeve, president of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association in Springfield, Virginia.

CVTA-member schools train about 50,000 students annually at 180 locations in 41 states. Many of the schools rely upon grants and loans to help students pay for training, which can cost several thousand dollars.

Robert McClanahan, executive director of the National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools, said he expects the law to increase the number of individuals who enroll in training programs.

“We applaud the signing of this bill and expect increased funding for entry-level driver training,” said McClanahan, who also works as director of Central Tech, a driver training school in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.

Lefeve said that he also continues to lobby Congress to look into delays in scheduling skills tests to issue new commercial driver licenses. In some states, that delay is up to 45 days.

On July 8, a group of 22 House members asked the U.S. General Accountability Office to assess the cost of delays and to examine issues, such as the use of training schools to conduct testing.

Under the new job-training law, local and state workforce investment boards must develop plans to focus more training on skills needed by industries facing labor shortages.

“This is a new strategy that we think will lead directly to more middle-class jobs,” Vice President Joe Biden said at the bill-signing ceremony July 22 at the White House. “These actions are going to help promote partnerships between educational institutions and workforce institutions. They’re going to increase apprenticeships, which will allow folks to earn while they learn. And it will empower job seekers and employers with better data on what jobs are available and what skills are needed to fill those jobs.”

President Obama asked Biden in January to lead a comprehensive review of job-training programs and recommend changes.

“There was a clear consensus,” Biden said. “We must rethink how we train today’s workers so that our programs are job-driven, teaching real skills that employers need.”

Secretary of Labor Tom Perez said the department will award $2.4 billion in competitive grants to schools and employment agencies that develop “job-driven” industry partnerships over the next two years. In addition, $100 million will be available for grants to help workers participate in apprenticeships.

Some in trucking have suggested allowing individuals as young as 18 to work as truck drivers as part of a closely supervised apprenticeship.

One of the problems for training schools in the United States and Canada is that truck driving is not considered a high-skill position, which makes it more difficult to compete for job-training funds.

Canadian trucking industry officials have expressed concern over a proposal by federal employment minister Jason Kenney to scrap a program that allows employers to hire foreign workers to fill temporary jobs.

“Companies that utilize the program to fill truck driver vacancies will be impacted,” said David Bradley, president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance in Toronto. “It’s not an ideal program, nor is it a solution to the shortage of qualified truck drivers. But it’s all that is available to fill some seats on a temporary basis for those who choose to use it.”

Bradley said the industry does not expect government to solve the driver shortage.

“When it comes to issues of compensation, lifestyle and training, the responsibility rests with the industry,” he said.

Carriers should be on the lookout for fraudulent letters appearing to be from "Equifax Credit Information Services - Government division," said the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration this week in letters issued to its field offices.

The letters will be dated July 11, 2014, and signed by Thad Brown, FMCSA says, and they seek to obtain banking information for the companies targeted.

It states that the "records show" the letter recipients are "registered as a prospective contractor for procurements issued by" the federal government, and that financial information is needed to proceed. Anyone who receives the letter is encouraged by FMCSA to contacttom.frazier@dot.gov or bob.thomasson@dot.gov, who are in the agency's investigative support unit.

Washington, D.C., August 1, 2014 - Following the Bureau of Labors Statistics release of July employment numbers, CVTA President and CEO Don Lefeve released the following statement:

"Today's job report is an important metric for measuring the health and growth of the US economy. The report also helps understand employment in the trucking industry.

"Adding 209,000 jobs in July is positive news for the country. After a sluggish First Quarter, we believe that our nation is beginning to recover. While the unemployment rate increased slightly to 6.2%, for-hire truck transportation added 2,300 jobs. In recent conversations with our schools, we are seeing increased interest from carriers for drivers. Clearly, the driver shortage is real and our schools stand ready to meet the challenge of producing high quality drivers into the industry.

"Recent actions in Congress are a welcomed first step. CVTA would like to thanks the bipartisan leadership of Members of Congress John Duncan (R-TN) and Eddie Bernice Johnson, along with 20 of their colleagues, who sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) which will examine skills testing delays in 50 states. CVTA believes this action will reveal bottlenecks in our system of getting students trained and getting to work. Our students know there is real demand in the trucking industry as many have multiple “pre-hire” letters from employers before entering our schools.

“Additionally, the signing of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) into law means workforce funding will go towards “in-demand” professions like truck driving. We believe this will have a positive effect in helping the 6.2 % unemployed find work in industries like trucking.”

"Working with our members, CVTA is focused on meeting the driver needs of the trucking industry by training and placing the next generation of high quality truck drivers.”

Congressman Jim Bridenstine Sees the Impact of the Truck Driving Industry with Visit to Roadmaster Drivers School

Jul 23, 2014 | Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Friday July 18th, Congressman Jim Bridenstine visited Roadmaster Drivers School, a professional truck driving school specializing in comprehensive commercial driver training, in Tulsa, where he experienced firsthand the importance truck driving schools play in helping train the next generation of truck drivers moving freight and the US economy forward.

Roadmaster welcomed the Congressman with a tour, an opportunity to engage with students and staff, observe the truck driver trainees in action, and understand what it is like to be trainee.

“It was an honor to have our fellow Oklahoman and Congressman, Jim Bridenstine, visit Roadmaster Tulsa,” said Debbie Burke, Director Roadmaster Tulsa. “We were thrilled to give him a campus tour, see our training in action, and discuss the numerous employment opportunities available to our students and our valuable relationships with the local WIA offices, ORO, Indian Tribes and the VA to assist with funding. Roadmaster is proud to provide quality training for a life-long skill and a professional career in an in-demand industry. We enjoy being a part of each student’s success and changing their life. We are thrilled to help put Oklahomans to work every day in a country that relies so heavily on the trucking industry and the transportation of goods imperative to our everyday life.”

The United States is currently facing a driver shortage. By 2022, the United States will lack an estimated 239,000 truck drivers to meet capacity demand. Through its members, like Roadmaster, the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA) is helping elected officials and government agencies understand the regulatory roadblocks, including the need for adequate funding for truck driver training, hindering individuals from getting hired and filling these critical positions.

“CVTA is thrilled that Congressman Jim Bridenstine choose to visit Roadmaster Drivers School and experience the important role driving CVTA schools play in training and placing students in high quality truck driving jobs," said Don Lefeve, President and CEO, CVTA. "A career in trucking begins with our schools and we appreciate the Congressman’s willingness to learn what it takes to undergo training for in-demand occupations like truck driving. Representative Bridenstine saw firsthand the positive impact our schools play in helping Americans enter this rewarding career. We look forward to continuing to work with the Congressman to ensure we are doing everything to support the next generation of truck drivers.”

The Congressman was a truck driver trainee for a day receiving instruction for pre-trip inspections, proper entry and exit of a big rig, and shifting patterns. He also had a chance to get behind the wheel and partake in hands-on training of starting, stopping, and backing of a Class A commercial motor vehicle.

“In my Navy career I made 330 landings on the deck of an aircraft carrier, but I must admit being a little apprehensive about getting behind the wheel of a big rig. After a few minutes with the Roadmaster instructors, I appreciated the quality of training the students receive. Visiting constituent business is a great way to better understand the challenges they face. I really enjoyed this time with Roadmaster Tulsa.”

About Roadmaster: Since 1992, Roadmaster Drivers School has gained a national reputation in the trucking industry for quality training of entry-level commercial truck drivers with over 70,000 graduates and currently offers 12 training locations across the U.S.

About CVTA: The Commercial Vehicle Training Association is the largest trade association representing the interest of truck driving schools, students, carriers, and other businesses that depend on their services. CVTA school members have 180 school locations in 41 States and graduate approximately 50,000 student annually.

Association and members applaud historic bi-partisan legislation designed to link training funds with in-demand jobs

Washington, D.C. (Jul. 17, 2014) - The Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA), the largest trade association representing truck driving schools, students, and motor carriers applauds the signing of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) into law. The historic bill streamlines and reauthorizes workforce programs through 2020. This law is the culmination bipartisan collaboration of lawmakers working with industry to improve the nation's workforce development system. Most importantly, our workforce system will now align training needs with jobs that can and need to be filled.

"This law helps ensure workers can obtain training funds to enter in-demand professions like commercial truck driving and CVTA applauds President Obama for signing this bipartisan legislation," said Don Lefeve, President and CEO, CVTA. "Over the next 10 years the driver shortage is only expected to get worse and we believe the law signed today will allow more workers to get the proper training needed to enter the trucking profession. CVTA schools and motor carriers produce and hire the most truck drivers in the country and we believe aligning training funds is good for the trucking industry which is the heart beat of the American economy."

The law signed today helps workers attain the skills necessary for existing and future jobs, and fosters a modern workforce to help make American companies meet their hiring needs and stay competitive. It also focuses on the creation of career pathway programs, improved integration and coordination of education and training services, development of sector based strategies, and addresses the need for adequate funding for truck driver training and other in-demand professions.

"CVTA members are focused on working within the trucking industry and across federal and state government to help ensure that more Americans can enter this rewarding profession that pays well," said John Diab, CVTA's Chairman. "CVTA schools not only offer the highest quality training in the industry, but have a great track record of success in placing students with quality motor carriers. We look forward to equipping the next generation of drivers with the skills necessary to achieve success."

CVTA believes quality training improves highway safety while simultaneously meeting the industry demand for drivers. WIOA funding ensures those who are looking to enter the trucking industry can receive the proper financial assistance to help obtain the right skills to get jobs in trucking that are currently unfilled.

About CVTA

The Commercial Vehicle Training Association is the largest trade association representing truck driving schools, students, and motor carriers. CVTA school members have 180 school locations in 41 States and graduate approximately 50,000 students annually.

Email your Senators today and urge them to support retaining Senator Collins’ Hours of Service Restart Study language in the FY 2015 T-HUD Appropriations bill and oppose any efforts to amend or eliminate it. To find their email address, please visitwww.senate.gov

This week the full Senate will begin consideration of the FY 2015 T-HUD bill, which includes the Hours of Service Restart Study amendment sponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). This amendment was overwhelmingly approved in full committee by a bipartisan 21 to 9 vote.

During full Senate consideration this week an amendment is expected to be offered that would strike all or part of Collins' Hours of Service Restart Study language. This is why we need you to act today by calling or sending a letter to your Senators asking them to oppose any efforts to amend or eliminate Senator Collins’ language.

Senator Collins’ amendment suspends for one year, two driver restart requirements included in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) hours of service rules that became effective July 2013. These current rules require drivers to be off duty for at least 34-hours, provided that time-off includes consecutive 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. periods; and drivers are now required to wait 168 hours (i.e. one week) before being able to institute a restart.

Safety is the trucking industry’s highest priority. While we do not oppose the majority of FMCSA’s hours of service rules, these two targeted restart provisions actually jeopardize safety while also reducing driver’s wages and unnecessarily burdening the nation’s economy.

Retaining Senator Collins’ Hours of Service Restart Study language will reduce the risks and other harm associated with the newly imposed restart restrictions while the rule’s benefits and true safety impacts are being properly evaluated.

We urge you to contact your Senators today. Ask them to support retaining Senator Collins' Hours of Service Restart Study language in the FY 2015 T-HUD Appropriations bill and oppose any efforts to eliminate it.

Washington, D.C., June 6, 2014 - Following the Bureau of Labors Statistics release of May employment numbers, CVTA President and CEO Don Lefeve released the following statement:

"Today's job report is an important metric for measuring the health and growth of the US economy. The report also helps understand employment in the trucking industry.

"While the economy added 217,000 jobs in May and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.3%, for-hire truck transportation added 1,500 jobs. While this is positive, we all know it does not meet the needs of carriers and the industry as a whole. The trucking industry still has many jobs that need high quality truck drivers but are going unfilled.

"We need to spotlight why these jobs are not being filled and eliminate unnecessary roadblocks which are hindering individuals from getting hired. Roadblocks such as CDL skills testing delays, ensuring adequate funding for truck driver training, and others remain. It is important for us to educate key stakeholders, including Congress and State governments, on these and other issues in order to reduce barriers keeping people from getting good paying jobs.

"CVTA will continue to do everything we can to address these roadblocks to employment and ensure our members continue to training high quality truck drivers and place them in important jobs that will help drive our economy forward."

There were two important events affecting the transportation sector this week. Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 21-9 to approve the Collins Amendment to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act of 2015. Senator Collins amendment suspends the new Hours of Service restart rules for 1 year while the FMCSA undertakes an extensive study on the issue.

The second event occurring this week was a hearing held by the Senate Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security which took testimony in an effort to produce a transportation reauthorization bill. As you may know, the current bill, MAP-21, expires at the end of this fiscal year. FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro provided testimony on a host of issues affecting the trucking industry. In her testimony, she discussed medical examiners, Hours of Service rules, Electronic Logging Devices, and the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse rule.

Administrator Ferro was questioned extensively on the Hours of Service rules by Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH). Senator Ayotte asked tough questions regarding the “rigorous analysis” the FMCSA has conducted noting the small of a sample size of FMCSA’s study. The study focused on 106 drivers over the span of an average of 12 days. Administrator Ferro claimed the study was statistically relevant considering it is the most comprehensive study on the topic to date.

Sen. Ayotte also pointed out that the Hours of Service restart rules force more truck drivers to drive during the daytime. Administrator Ferro responded arguing that increased truck driver alertness caused by the Hours of Service rules will more than offset the safety concerns raised by a higher volume of trucks on the road during the day. She admitted, however, that no data has been done regarding the number of additional trucks on the road during the day as a result of the service hour requirement.

BACKGROUND

Under current law, a person can sit for his Commercial Driver’s License test (CDL) without receiving formal driver training. For more than 20 years, the Department of Transportation has attempted to produce minimum training requirements for entry-level drivers (ELDT). Prior attempts have failed to pass judicial scrutiny or were withdrawn by the Department.

With the passage of Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act in 1986, President Reagan established the Commercial Driver’s License Program. This program requires both knowledge and skills testing for all new entrants. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush signed the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act — commonly known as ISTEA — into law, which required the Secretary of Transportation to begin a rulemaking on ELDT. In 2004, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a Final Rule on ELDT, but soon after the release of the proposed rule, the agency was sued. In 2005, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision, which remanded the rule back to FMCSA, stating that training must include on-the-road training.

In 2007, FMCSA published a proposed rule that would require entry-level driver training for all new drivers seeking to acquire a CDL. That proposed rule would have mandated all training programs be 120 hours and be accredited. While CVTA supported mandatory training for entry-level drivers, we did not support it in the form that FMCSA had proposed because there was and is no data to suggest that a specific number of hours or accreditation correlated to safety. CVTA and others supported an alternative version of ELDT known as performance-based testing, which requires an individual to actually demonstrate their knowledge and skills prior to sitting for the CDL skills exam.

In 2012, the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act” — known as MAP-21 — again called for FMCSA to put forth minimum driver training requirements. Since then, FMCSA has withdrawn its 2007 proposed rule and is now undertaking the negotiated rulemaking process.

The FMCSA recently announced the formation of the Entry-Level Driver Training Advisory Committee (ELDTAC), which will attempt identify and draft an ELDT regulation through the negotiated rulemaking process. In this negotiated rulemaking, FMCSA has selected 26 individuals representing various industries that are connected to trucking, including CVTA, to “negotiate” a proposed regulation. The other ELDTAC participants are comprised of schools, trucking associations, bus associations, safety groups, enforcement groups, unions, and a large carrier and an owner-operator.

CVTA POSITION

CVTA strongly believes that any driver sitting for his CDL should (a) first be required to attend mandatory training that includes both classroom and behind-the-wheel training; (b) should be required to present certification showing successful completion of the required training prior to sitting for the CDL; (c) that training should be performance-based rather than hours-based (i.e. that a new driver should become competent in the required knowledge and skills prior to sitting for his CDL, rather than merely completing a set number of hours of training); and (d) that all training programs should be licensed by the state in which they operate.

While CVTA works with other stakeholders on the ELDTAC to produce minimum training requirements for entry-level drivers, we want all Members of Congress and staff to be aware of the ongoing process at the Department of Transportation and to know that CVTA is a participant in the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee. While CVTA is optimistic that parties can come together and put forth a sensible regulation, we may need support introducing legislation if FMCSA puts forth a misguided rule.

CVTA Welcomes Step Forward in Addressing America's Workforce Development System

Association focused on keeping the American economy moving forward by providing quality truck driver training that addresses the growing needs of carriers

Washington, D.C. (May. 21, 2014) - The Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA), the largest trade association representing the interests of truck driving schools, students, motor carriers, and the businesses that depend on their services, today announced its support of Congress' bipartisan effort to improve the nation's workforce development system through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA focuses on aligning training needs with jobs that can and need to be filled. CVTA members are dedicated to streamlining the process of enrolling students into schools, training them as quality drivers, and placing them into jobs in order to reduce the growing driver shortage, projected to reach 239,000 in the next 10 years. WIOA is a positive step forward in ensuring workers seeking to enter truck driving and other in-demand professional receive the proper assistance, obtain the right training and skills, and are placed into jobs that will positively impact the economy.

Did you know an important law affecting you goes into effect May 21, 2014?

To keep America’s interstate CMV drivers healthy and our roads safer, all interstate CMV drivers will soon be required to have their medical examinations performed by a Certified Medical Examiner listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.

If you’re an interstate CMV driver, you already need a valid medical certificate signed by a medical examiner. The only change is that after May 21, 2014, you’ll need to go to a certified medical examiner for your medical certificate. If you’ve already had an exam and have a current certificate that certificate will be valid until its regular expiration date.

We received the following information from ATA and wanted you all to be aware:

For the past two weeks and individual identifying himself as Larry Davis is calling Truck Driving schools representing that he is a recruiter for Knight Transportation, gleaning names of students from the school and then promising them a trainer if the student will wire him $200 dollars. Several individuals have been scammed.

At least one of the students in Florida has filed a police report. We wanted to get the word out to all to be aware! There is no Mr. Davis at Knight and they do not charge students.

Brian Stout is the President of TCS USA, a transportation safety and security consulting firm which fields former law enforcement agents specializing in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Brian consults in matters of security, safety, and fleet liability related to federal regulations and industry standards. Brian has consulted on safety and security projects with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration, and the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. TCS’ operations cover multiple states and jurisdictions and include international clients. Brian’s background is a combination of law enforcement, government security, and operational management and consists of numerous commendations and awards. He has Bachelors of Science with Honors in psychology and criminal justice from Liberty University which compliments his list of industry certifications. Brian’s influence, training, and policies can be found in many thriving businesses all over North America. He has worked on both the prosecution side and the defense side of state and federal regulations for the past 16 years and has successfully defended hundreds of clients in transportation enforcement cases.

An experienced higher education attorney, with time served both as outside and in-house counsel, Aaron's practice is dedicated entirely to assisting postsecondary institutions and their partners to advance their educational and operational objectives while navigating complex regulatory environments. The former Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs & Strategic Development for Vatterott Educational Centers, Inc., Aaron deeply appreciates the ever-increasing regulatory considerations that affect the day-to-day operations of postsecondary institutions, and the practical challenges associated with managing such considerations in a manner that is both efficient and cost effective.

Mitchell N. Roth is a partner at Roth Doner Jackson, PLC. He is nationally recognized for his experience with state and federal direct marketing laws. He counsels clients on developing effective marketing strategies to ensure compliance with telemarketing, email, fax, direct mail and internet marketing laws. He also has significant experience in defending clients in nation-wide class action lawsuits arising out of alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act as well as enforcement actions initiated by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general alleging violations of marketing laws. Mr. Roth works closely with several national trade associations in advising them and their members on compliance with marketing and privacy laws and is a frequent lecturer on legal issues affecting the direct marketing industry.

Mr. Roth has also gained experience in counseling private colleges and universities on compliance with the Department of Education’s Program Integrity regulations, specifically those pertaining to Gainful Employment, Placement Verification, Prohibited Misrepresentations and Incentive Compensation. Mr. Roth also oversees the Firm’s Business Immigration practice group where he advises clients in connection with their business immigration matters. He is experienced in assisting his clients with obtaining nonimmigrant visas, such as H-1Bs, L-1s, E-2s, etc., as well as assisting his clients in obtaining U.S. permanent residence through employment.

Organization’s highest honor goes to long-time proponent of finding and trainingthe professional truck drivers of tomorrow

Grapevine, Texas -- The Professional Truck Driver Institute, Inc. (PTDI) is pleased to announce that it has selected Terry Burnett, CIC, CRM, president of Burnett Insurance Corporation of Little Rock, Arkansas, and chairman of PTDI since 2008, as the 2014 recipient of the Lee J. Crittenden Memorial Award. The award was bestowed March 25, 2014, at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas, during the annual convention of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), the organization that manages PTDI.

Delays and inconsistencies with the way states test applicants for commercial driver licenses are undermining efforts to place truck driver training school graduates in jobs, according to officials who have asked Congress to act.

Don Lefeve, president of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association in Springfield, Va., said it takes up to 45 days for CDL applicants in some states to arrange a skills test due to inadequate staffing and a limited number of testing facilities.

As a consequence of delays in issuing licenses, Lefeve said, many qualified applicants give up or find other jobs, hurting the ability of motor carriers to fill jobs and tying up equipment at state testing sites that could be used for ongoing instruction.

To speed up the process, Lefeve said, states need to expand the number of third-party testing sites.

“Our data show that 29 states offer third-party testing,” Lefeve said. “Of these states, 12 offer it through a very restricted program; meaning through a community college only. An additional 12 states only conduct testing through state-funded officials or sites… Continue reading…

The struggles of the nation’s trucking fleet to attract and retain qualified drivers have been well-documented in the pages of Transport Topics for many years now.

From long stretches of time away from home for longhaul drivers to the continued frustration with burdensome government regulations to the indecisiveness to seriously tackle highway funding and congestion issues, being a professional truck driver takes a special type of person.

Don Lefeve, president of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, said it can take up to 45 days for CDL applicants in some states to arrange a skills test due to inadequate staffing and a limited number of testing facilities... Continue reading.

Our next Webinar "All Politics is Local - Let Your Voice Be Heard" is scheduled for this Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. CVTA's President and CEO Don Lefeve will present the webinar and share his years of experience and knowledge on what you need to do to establish and improve relationships with Federal, State and Local political figures.

This is a Webinar not to be missed! You and your company have an important story to tell and this Webinar will provide you with the information to ensure your voice is heard by the politicians who represent you.

If you wish to participate please contact us or call the CVTA Office 703-642-9444.

Don Lefeve is President & CEO of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA), overseeing all operations at CVTA and is the chief advocate before Congress, the White House, and federal regulatory agencies. Lefeve joined CVTA in 2013 and brings over 15 years of government relations and political experience to his post.

Lefeve was formerly the Director of Government Affairs at the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU) where he was the principal day to day liaison between APSCU and Members of Congress. Lefeve also designed and led APSCU’s grassroots efforts.

He has held senior government relations positions in industry and served on the legislative staff of former United States Senator John Warner. While working for Senator Warner, Lefeve handled Agriculture, Judiciary, Labor, and Small Business policy issues. Additionally, Lefeve has worked on several Congressional, Senate, and Presidential campaigns.

Lefeve holds a B.A. in History from Randolph-Macon College, a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law and was a 2006 Fellow at the Thomas C. Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership (University of Virginia). Mr. Lefeve is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.

Transportation Compliance Services, USA is a Safety and Consulting firm with certified experts that specializes in all areas of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Title 49. TCS services all 50 United States and its territories. Over the last decade, we have been helping Motor Carriers maintain compliance with the U.S. DOT and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. We also provide Certified Safety Training for drivers in several areas including Haz-Mat, Hours of Service, and drug and alcohol.

We offer everything from consultations to seminars to complete safety management. We keep you in compliance and on the road.

We can offer your company:

Safety Management Assistance

Consult on DOT/FMCSA issues

Set up and maintain your driver and vehicle files

Manage drug and alcohol consortium

Quarterly DOT style audits with post audit action plans

Driver MVR Reports

New Entrants Set-up

Accident Investigations

On-site Vehicle Inspections

On-site Drug & Alcohol Testing

Carrier & Driver Training

Haz-Mat Training

International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) Processing & Reporting

Free initial consultations

We can manage all your DOT Compliance needs so you no longer have to worry about the DOT.

INDUSTRY FACTS:

On average over the next 10 years, the trucking industry must attract nearly 97,000 people annually to become drivers. This need comes from people leaving the industry through retirements in addition to companies adding trucks to their fleets as the economy grows;i

The trucking industry currently needs more drivers than are being trained each year and over the next 10 years the industry is expected to have a shortfall of 239,000 drivers;ii

Entry-level truck drivers are often “pre-hired” before beginning their driver training, thus they begin working almost immediately after completion of training;

Entry-level drivers enjoy an average compensation level of $38,000-$43,000 per year;iii

The truck driver occupation is listed as a an “occupation with the most growth”;iv

6.9 Million People Employed throughout the economy in jobs that relate to trucking activity in 2011, excluding self-employed;vi

3.1 Million Truck Drivers Employed in 2011.vii

i American Trucking Associations, US Trucking Industry Needs to Hire Nearly 1 Million New Tractor-Trailer Drivers over the Next 10 Years, February 2014.ii Id.iii Id.iv Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupations with the most job growth, 2012 and projected 2022, available at http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_104.htmv American Trucking Trends 2013viId.viiId.

CVTA brings members together to share expertise and advocate on behalf of the entire industry. CVTA’s members actively contribute to the association through involvement in issue-specific committees focused on best positioning the CVTA and members around critical industry issues. Below is a list of CVTA committees:

The Associate Member Committee purpose is to represent Associate Members needs and interests, identify relevant topics for webinars, and examine other issues affecting them. They should examine ways to engage CVTA members and provide articles of interest to the membership through the CVTA website.

The Communications Committee’s purpose is to provide strategic advice and counsel regarding CVTA’s internal and external communications. The function of the Committee also includes ways to create a positive image of the trucking industry with the general public through press, member stories, and events featuring the industry.

The Conference Committee is charged with making recommendations to the CVTA Board of Directors on where CVTA conferences should be held, what the theme of the conference shall be, what speakers the conference should have, and what relevant topics should be covered to inform the membership.

The Legislative Committee is charged with making recommendations to the Board regarding CVTA’s legislative and regulatory positions, priorities, and recommended course of action on these priorities on the federal, state, and local levels. The committee will aid the in the formation of all policy papers, review and edit CVTA regulatory comments, and help direct CVTA’s grassroots and state affairs programs to support CVTA priorities. Members serving on this committee will also help represent CVTA when and where needed.

The goal of the Membership Services Committee is to help CVTA identify member services which will enrich and provide value for CVTA members. The Membership services committee will also identify programs and instructional aides to better equip schools to successfully train students; to assist the membership in the training of instructors, and to oversee the operation of the CVTA Instructor Certification Programs (ICP). The ICP program strives to ensure trainers are well prepared to train students to function in the trucking industry environment. The committee continues to develop and promote to the membership information on training opportunities in other areas of school operation. The committee continues to work on expanding CVTA’s Online Testing Program, as well as researching and evaluating new technology as it relates to training.

The goal of the Membership Committee is to help recruit prospective members, review all applications for school, carrier, and associate CVTA membership, assist in integrating new members into the organization, and review existing members to ensure compliance with CVTA’s Codes of Conduct. In addition, the committee reviews all written complaints regarding false and/or misleading advertising received at the CVTA office. It will ascertain the nature and extent of the false or misleading advertising. Working with CVTA staff, the committee will make recommendations on how to resolve any issues. It is the committee’s responsibility to recommend corrective actions to the Association’s Executive Committee and/or Board of Directors.

The Motor Carrier Committee represents motor carriers’ interests as it relates to the promotion of commercial driver training and safety from a carrier’s perspective. Other goals shall include forging relationships with CVTA schools, identifying future driver needs, student employment, and enhancing the awareness of partnerships between commercial driver training schools and motor carriers. The committee will also continue to form relationships with quality carriers, strengthen alliances and services to fulfill driver needs, and enhance awareness of motor carriers during the conferences.

The goal of the Nominating Committee is to create awareness within CVTA of opportunities to serve as Board Members and Officers, review the level of interest of specific individuals, and present them to the Board as potential candidates for service. Candidates should be reviewed for their honesty, integrity, commitment, and involvement within the industry and CVTA. The committee will present a description of the requirements of a Board Member to anyone interested in the position, and shall be responsible for conducting an annual election to fill vacancies on the CVTA Board of Directors.

Each year, CVTA members select a chairman to lead the organization and represent the truck driving training industry at events nationwide. The Chairman works with CVTA leadership to best position the association and industry to various audiences and stakeholders.

From the Desk of the Chairman

October 29, 2014

Allow me to express my thanks to all of you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to attend the Fall Conference in St. Louis. Our membership continues to grow and this conference was again the most highly attended. I hope you found it both informative and beneficial.

Your feedback is important and will help enable us to plan future conferences. If you have not already sent us your comments, please do so in the near future.

CVTA’s leadership is comprised of industry, policy and association management experts focused on representing the interests of member organizations and the truck driving training industry as a whole. Together, with members and partners, CVTA executives help craft the strategic direction for the organization.

STAFF

Board of Directors

The CVTA Board of Directors—comprised of leaders of our member organizations and CVTA’s President and CEO—is actively involved in shaping CVTA’s priorities, policy and activities designed to help manage the industry's reputation.

Washington, D.C. - Commercial Vehicle Training Association's (CVTA) President and CEO Don Lefeve released the following statement on the President's 2015 Budget Request:

"CVTA and our member schools are dedicated to helping keep the US economy moving forward by providing high quality education and training to the next generation of professional truck drivers. We applaud the President's budget for its focus on new investments that empower workers with skills and training for in-demand careers such as truck driving. We do, however, feel that more work lies ahead.

While we believe the President is on the right track in focusing on industries in high demand, in our view, we also need the Department of Labor to recognize national in-demand industries, such as trucking, which hire professional drivers from all parts of the United States.

With an anticipated industry shortfall of nearly 239,000 drivers over the next 10 years, we see the need to work directly with all stakeholders, including carriers, truck driving schools, and community colleges to achieve an ultimate goal of training people to join the ranks of the professional truck driving industry. Doing so is good not only for professional truck drivers but also good for the American economy as it can provide up to 239,000 possible careers that cannot be outsourced. We look forward to working with the President and Congress to do everything possible to effectively train these new industry professionals so we may fill these critical jobs and keep America moving forward."

About CVTA

CVTA is the largest trade association representing the interests of truck driving schools, students and the businesses that depend on their services. Working with members and partners on critical industry issues, CVTA is the voice of commercial vehicle education throughout the United States. Together we are shaping the future of safer transportation.

Don is working on a lead-in text...................................................................

Public Policy Advocacy

Working with lawmakers and regulators, CVTA and its members advocate for practical and sensible policies which impact our students, schools, and motor carriers. The association provides industry expertise to policymakers, facilitates an ongoing dialogue between industry and government officials, and ensures our members voice is heard in Washington, D.C. and in State Capitals.

Industry Collaboration

Hosting 2 conferences a year, monthly webinars on industry specific topics, a bimonthly newsletter, and collaboration through committee calls, CVTA provides critical industry information to its members and provides opportunities for our members to network and learn from each other. CVTA leverages its own member expertise providing an enrich experience and greater understanding on industry affairs which otherwise would not happen. Members are able to learn and share best practices so that our schools collectively produce the best graduates into the workforce. Additionally, our motor carrier members are able to establish relationships with schools from which to seek a qualified, well trained workforce.

Instructor Certification Program

One of the goals of CVTA is to help schools achieve a level of excellence in driver training. The Association engages in a number of educational programs in order to accomplish this. CVTA has developed an Instructor Certification Program to enhance the effectiveness and professionalism of instructors working for member training organizations. The Instructor Training Program is based on vocational instruction materials developed by Ohio State University and published by the American Association of Vocational Instructional Materials. Instructors engage in self-paced study and must complete on-line testing in order to qualify for the highest designation, Master Instructor. To date, more than 700 instructors have achieved the Master Instructor designation, while more than 1,500 others have achieved one of the other four levels of proficiency.

Our Safety Professional Level released in 2010 is based on the ATA publication “Safety For the Long Haul” written by Ronald R. Knipling, PhD. Has enjoyed great success with 180 Instructors completing the program and over 300 working their way through this series of the program.

Our next level for the Senior Master Level will be available in the spring of 2014. This section is based on the vocational instruction materials developed by Ohio State University and published by the American Association of Vocational Instructional Materials.

Education Programs and Content

The association creates and shares its own educational content and videos to help prepare students for success in their future career. Driver Retention is a major problem facing the trucking industry. Driver turnover is a major issue for CVTA Schools and Motor Carrier members. One of our goals is to do our best to reduce driver turnover. Towards that end CVTA’s Member Schools and Motor Carrier Members worked together to produce a ten minute video to alert students to the Issues Involved in changing jobs entitle “It Pays To Stay” The following year the same group produced a video entitled “It Pays to Pay” providing students with the skills for handing their finances while on the road.

Working with the Commercial Driver Training Foundation, CVTA also produced a video entitled “Life on the Road” that provides potential students and their families an opportunity to see an overview of what the life of a long haul truck driving professional entails.

We also created a series of brochures for distribution at schools providing similar information for the potential student to take with them for consideration.

Once the students graduate CVTA has a graduation package congratulating the students and provides information on discounts on the road and information an accessing the CVTA website for questions that may arise.

Our efforts are designed to educate our new Professional Truck Drivers to the Industry!

BACKGROUND

The Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) governs how commercial drivers are licensed nationwide. To obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), a student driver must follow a two-step process similar to that of someone seeking a traditional driver’s license. First, the driver must pass a written “knowledge” test to obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). Later, the driver must pass a behind the wheel “skills” test to obtain a CDL.

Though FMCSA has adopted a minimum set of standardized tests that all states must utilize when skills testing a driver, the federal government allows states to use a number of different options to administer the skills test to new drivers. States can test applicants themselves through their Department of Motor Vehicles, or they can use “Third Party Testing.” States using Third Party Testing delegate the testing function, in whole or part, to state certified, non-governmental third party CDL examiners – such as contractors, or employers – who administer the skills test required for a CDL.

In 2013, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration amended the Commercial Driver’s License Testing and Commercial Learner’s Permit Standards Final Rule to allow more options for states who decide to use Third Party Testers. Specifically, the amendment allowed CDL training schools to test their own student applicants so long as an individual examiner does not administer the skills test to drivers he or she has trained. FMCSA decided to allow states to conduct Third Party Testing through driver training schools in order to reduce the existing bottlenecks at state facilities, which are caused by insufficient funding for CDL testing staff and/or facilities.

CURRENT PROBLEM AND RECENT ACTIVITY

In many states, students are facing severe wait times to schedule their initial CDL skills test. Delays can range anywhere from 2 weeks to 7 weeks depending on the state. Should a student fail on their first attempt, he or she will face a similar delay time to reschedule the skills test. This is causing great hardships on students. They are unable to enter the workforce without first obtaining their CDL, they must continue to finance daily living without a job, and their skills may erode since their skills are at their peak upon leaving training. Motor carriers are also harmed by these delays because there are not enough new CDL holders available to fill the growing driver shortage. Schools are also harmed by these delays because they often need to procure additional equipment or dedicate existing equipment to sit at backlogged state testing sites until their students are finally tested.

In 2014, 22 Members of Congress asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate these delays. While the GAO is still conducting its investigation, CVTA anticipates that a report should be published by July 2015. We further anticipate that GAO will confirm what our members and students experience on a daily basis.

CVTA’S PROPOSAL

While CVTA awaits the report from the GAO, we believe Congress should take action on this matter in the Highway Bill. CVTA requests that Congress insert report language noting the problem and strongly advising FMCSA to reduce wait times to no more than 7 days or require a state to allow Third Party testing.

BACKGROUND

Last year, Congress reauthorized federal workforce programs funded under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) through the passage of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). As with WIA, WIOA allocates federal funds to states, which then push these funds into their local workforce through state “one-stop” centers. These centers provide intake, counseling, education, and job placement services for adults, dislocated workers, and certain youth. Job-seekers apply for grants at these one-stop centers, which enable them to pay for training or education that is meant to better-position them for employment.

WIOA made a number of changes to WIA in an effort to align job-seekers, training grants, and “in-demand” jobs. In particular, WIOA requires state and local workforce boards to fund job training programs only if boards consider the particular occupations or jobs to be “in-demand.” State and local boards are to “use state and regional business and labor market projections, including the use of labor market information” in order to determine which jobs will be considered “in-demand” within the state or locality for purposes of training program eligibility.1

CURRENT PROBLEM

While allocating training funds to “in-demand” occupations could help fill the 35,000 vacancies currently existing in the trucking industry, it could, ironically, contribute to more vacancies. If state and local workforce boards focus solely on local companies, rather than local jobs, when analyzing which industries are “in-demand,” CVTA fears that future drivers will be foreclosed the opportunity to receive grants for training. This would, in turn, further hurt the growing driver shortage in America.

CVTA’S POSITION

In order to determine which jobs are “in-demand” for purposes of WIOA funding, it is imperative that all Governors and workforce boards understand the current driver shortage and recognize how trucking companies hire. Governors and workforce boards should focus on jobs capable of being filled within the state, and not merely focus on the companies located within the state. State and local workforce boards need to understand that many trucking companies will hire drivers located in all states. However, future drivers must be able to attend training in order to get hired. Once hired, these drivers remain state residents, reside within the local community, and pay state and local taxes.

Therefore, CVTA is asking Members of Congress – through a letter or a phone call – to educate Governors about the growing shortage of truck drivers, help explain to them that trucking jobs are local jobs despite the fact the hiring company may be out of state, and urge them to make trucking an “in-demand” occupation so future drivers can use WIOA grants to attend truck driver training.

CVTA CONTACTS

Don Lefeve (don.lefeve@cvta.org)
Alice Smith (alice.smith@cvta.org)

_______________

1 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, Pub. L. No. 113-128, http://www.doleta.gov/wioa/ (“The determination of whether an industry sector or occupation is in-demand under this paragraph shall be made by the State board or local board, as appropriate, using State and regional business and labor market projections, including the use of labor market information.”)

BACKGROUND

The Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) oversees states to ensure that they are properly following federal minimum testing requirements governing how commercial drivers are licensed nationwide. To obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), a student driver must follow a two-step process similar to that of someone seeking a traditional license. First, the driver must pass a written “knowledge” test to obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). Later, the driver must pass a behind the wheel “skills” test to obtain a CDL.

Though CDLs are tested for and issued on a state-by-state basis, FMCSA has adopted a minimum set of standardized skills tests that all states must utilize when testing a driver for a CDL in an effort to ensure that commercial drivers – who regularly drive interstate – are qualified to drive safely on the roads. As of July 2015, states will be required to use an FMCSA pre-approved State Testing System that is comparable to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators’ 2005 CDL Test System (July 2010 version), and state examiners will be required to have completed a formal CDL examiner training course and exam.

THE CURRENT PROBLEM

Though these July 2015 changes mark FMCSA’s most recent efforts to standardize state CDL tests and ensure that state CDL examiners are qualified, FMCSA has failed to take the most obvious step towards ensuring examiner credibility and capability – requiring states to ensure that their CDL examiners hold a CDL themselves.

FMCSA’s failure to require that states ensure that their CDL examiners hold a CDL undermines the integrity of the CDL testing process and the trucking industry. A pilot testing for a license would not take a test flight with someone who is not licensed to operate an airplane; a law student’s bar exam would not be graded by someone who is not an attorney; even a driver seeking a traditional driver’s license would not go onto the road with an examiner who is not licensed to operate a car. Requiring a tester hold the license for which they are testing is an obvious requirement that is followed by nearly every industry – the requirement stresses the importance of the license and ensures that examiners are adequately positioned to judge the qualifications of their applicants.

Additionally, FMCSA’s failure to require that state CDL examiners hold a CDL fails to comply with current law. As with a traditional license, student drivers taking the behind the wheel “skills” portion of their test – the CDL exam – will hold a CLP only, and therefore, may lawfully operate a commercial vehicle only if accompanied by a CDL holder. However, because FMCSA does not require state examiners to hold a CDL, students are often effectively forced to break the law during the CDL test, as the examiner riding with them may not hold a CDL. This sends a dangerous message to CLP holders about the importance of following FMCSA regulations mandating that a CLP holder only drive if accompanied by someone with a CDL. Finally, FMCSA’s failure to ensure that state CDL examiners hold a CDL is unsafe. Should a CDL applicant have an emergency on the road during testing, the examiner may be ill equipped to respond and may not know how to operate the commercial vehicle.

CVTA’S PROPOSAL

CVTA is seeking legislation in the Highway Bill, which would require the FMCSA to mandate that all CDL skills examiners hold CDLs within five years of the date of the law’s enactment. This simple and obvious requirement will ensure that those administering the CDL test are best positioned to safely and effectively judge the capabilities of an applicant.

Trucking begins with driver education. Drivers are as essential to the trucking industry as the trucks they drive. As the leading voice of commercial driver education in the United States, CVTA is a trusted source of information about driver training, trucking safety, and transportation and education public policy. CVTA’s public policy agenda focuses on those issues which affect students, our schools’ ability to produce safe, quality entry level drivers into the trucking industry, and for carriers to hire quality drivers.

CVTA members have over 185 training locations in 43 states and collectively train approximately 50,000 drivers per year. Over the next 10 years, the trucking industry is expected to have a shortfall of 239,000 drivers. In order to keep up with increasing retirement rates and a growing economy, the industry must attract an average of nearly 97,000 new drivers each year. In short, the trucking industry needs more drivers than are currently being trained each year.

With this in mind, CVTA’s 2015 priorities are meant to meet this growing demand and support our mission of promoting excellence in training, developing safety in the transportation industry, and enhancing driver professionalism.

Under current law, a person can sit for his commercial driver’s license test (CDL) without receiving formal driver training. The Department of Transportation has attempted to establish minimum training requirements for all new commercial truck drivers for over 20 years. To date, all previous attempts at establishing Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations by the Department of Transportation have not survived judicial scrutiny. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is currently undertaking a negotiated rulemaking in an attempt to create minimum training requirements for all entry-level drivers.

CVTA is focused on helping our member schools produce safe, high quality drivers. This focus is why CVTA believes that any driver sitting for their CDL should (a) first be required to attend mandatory training that includes both classroom and behind-the-wheel training, (b) that new drivers should be required to present certification showing successful completion of the required training prior to sitting for the CDL, (c) that training should be performance-based rather than hours-based (i.e. that a new driver should become competent in the required knowledge and skills prior to sitting for his CDL, rather than merely completing a set number of hours of training), and (d) that all training programs should be licensed by the state in which they operate.

America’s ability to train a skilled workforce is necessary to compete globally. Ensuring a reliable transportation system and transportation workforce is critical to our nation’s economic growth and well-being. A reliable transportation system begins with meeting the demand for commercial drivers which deliver the freight to storefronts and manufacturers across America.
In 2014, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) reauthorized federal workforce programs and provides grants for job-seekers so they may attend training. WIOA requires state and local workforce boards to provide grants for job training only if boards consider that job to be “in-demand.” WIOA’s commitment to funding only “in-demand” jobs can help fill the 35,000 vacancies in the trucking industry. However, WIOA will only help fill these open positions if state workforce boards recognize that trucking jobs are filled locally, even though the company actually hiring drivers may be located outside of a state and/or will require drivers to regularly travel outside of the state.

Over the next 10 years, our nation is expected to face a driver shortage in excess of 239,000 drivers. Simply put, America needs more commercial drivers. In order to accomplish this, we need strong public investment to help those who are currently underemployed and unemployed into the commercial driving profession. CVTA believes all Governors should understand the importance of the growing truck driver shortage, understand that trucking jobs are local jobs despite the fact the hiring company may be out of state, and should ensure trucking is considered an “in-demand” occupation in their state so future drivers can use WIOA grants to attend truck driver training.

While the FMCSA has attempted to standardize state skills tests for commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), to date FMCSA has failed to take the most obvious step towards ensuring examiner credibility and capability – requiring state examiners hold a CDL themselves. There is no federal regulation requiring an examiner to hold the license for which he or she is judging examinees. It is an obvious requirement that is followed by nearly every industry because it stresses the importance of the license itself, and ensures that examiners are adequately positioned to judge the qualifications of their applicants.

CVTA believes that the FMCSA should fix this oversight and make all skills examiners hold a CDL within 5 years.

All Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) applicants must pass a skills test before being issues a CDL. In many states, students who complete training face severe delay times after requesting to sit for their CDL skills test due to a lack of CDL testing locations and testing personnel. These severe and costly wait times are causing hardships for students, carriers, and schools alike.

In 2014, 22 Members of Congress requested the GAO investigate this problem. The GAO is currently conducting a study of delays in several states and CVTA anticipates a final report by July 2015.

Current Department of Transportation regulations allow states to determine how and where to skills test their CDL applicants. In many states, the government outsources this testing function to contracted third parties. In other states, the government does not outsource this testing function. CVTA members know that testing delays are hurting many students from entering the job market. In anticipation of the GAO report, CVTA believes the FMCSA should require states to reduce their delays to 7 days. Should a state fail to reduce testing times to within 7 days, the state should be required to offer Third Party Testing.

Washington, DC - The Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, chaired by U.S. Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI), will hold a roundtable policy discussion on Wednesday with representatives of the transportation community in preparation for the development of a surface transportation reauthorization bill.

The federal surface transportation programs were most recently reauthorized in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, which was enacted on July 6, 2012. MAP-21 expires in September, and Wednesday’s roundtable is part of the Committee’s process for developing the next bill.

The roundtable is open to the public, and is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building. The roundtable will not be webcast.

In addition to Subcommittee Members, roundtable participants will include:

· The Honorable Bill Graves, President and CEO, American Trucking Associations

Another new round of fraudulent USDOT letters dated February 18, 2014 are starting to circulate among motor carriers. The letters appear to be from the "U.S. Department of Transportation Procurement Office" and signed by a fictitious name of "Louis JAMES - Senior Procurement Officer". The letters are attempting to obtain banking information from the targeted companies. A sample of the letter is here.

Carrier officials who feel they have been victimized by providing banking information should notify their banking institution and report the crime to law enforcement officials immediately.

You may also go to the FMCSA or USDOT OIG websites below for more information:

Your participation in the Department of Defense’s Voluntary Education Programs provides valuable educational opportunities to our Service members in direct support of their professional and personal development. We applaud your efforts and look forward to a continued partnership in support of new Voluntary Education Program policies and objectives.

We anticipate issuance of the final rule and change 2 to DoDI 1322.25, Voluntary Education Programs, in the coming months. As you are aware, this issuance includes several new requirements in support of the President's Executive Order 13607, "Establishing Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Servicing Service Members, Veterans, Spouses, and Other Family Members", signed April 27, 2012 (available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-05-02/pdf/2012-10715.pdf). In conjunction with the new issuance, ALL participating educational institutions will be required to sign the new DoD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The sign-by date has not yet been established but will be no sooner than 60 days following the publication of the final rule in the Federal Register.

This notice focuses on clarifying the proposed Title IV participation requirement in order to jump-start your preparations. The new issuance requires educational institutions to be certified to participate in federal student aid programs through Department of Education (ED) under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Title IV certification may be provisional so long as the educational institution maintains eligibility to participate in the Federal Direct Loan Program.

As an educational institution with a current DoD Voluntary Education Partnership MOU, you will have 18 months following the publication of the final rule in the Federal Register to successfully meet the Title IV requirement. During this time, you will be allowed to continue participating in the Tuition Assistance program, enrolling new and current students as long as you are actively pursuing Title IV eligibility.

If you are not currently certified to participate in federal financial aid programs, the first step toward meeting the Title IV requirement is issuance of an official OPE ID number by ED. IMPORTANT NOTE: Only educational institutions with an OPE ID number issued by ED will be able to initiate an application for the new DoD Voluntary Education Partnership MOU. Your institution can apply for an OPE ID following the guidelines outlined at http://www.eligcert.ed.gov.

Your institution can request and be issued an OPE ID within a few weeks. Issuance of an OPE ID number; however, does not make an educational institution Title IV eligible or meet the new requirement for Title IV participation….it is only the first step. Your institution will still need to complete and submit the electronic application and all supporting materials in accordance with ED guidance. Because we understand the application and approval process may take from 2 – 12 months, depending on the preparedness of the educational institution to meet Title IV requirements, we are providing the previously discussed 18 month window to become compliant.

To learn more about applying for an OPE ID and Approval to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid Programs, visit: http://www.eligcert.ed.gov. If you have questions on the application process, please contact ED directly for assistance.

Note: 1. This notice and instructions on how to apply for an OPE ID will be posted in the DoD MOU Resources section at www.dodmou.com.

2. This email was sent to all institution Primary and Secondary POCs along with the Signing Authority.

Recent moves by President Obama and congressional leaders to expand job-training programs are raising hopes the government will do more to help individuals learn to be truck drivers, industry officials said...

“WIA is a valuable and significant source of funding for students looking to get trained [as truck drivers],” said Don Lefeve, president of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association in Springfield, Va. “Passage of legislation is a priority for us and our members.”... Continue reading.

Arlington, VA – A new research white paper examining safety impacts of simulator training for truck drivers was released today by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). The report, Safety Impacts of Truck Driver Simulator Training, investigated the effectiveness of using customized truck driving simulators to target specific driving behaviors that have been associated with increased crash risk.

This study incorporated driving behaviors previously identified in ATRI’s Predicting Truck Crash Involvement report. The study developed a series of “targeted” training scenarios for use in driving simulators. ATRI then partnered with motor carriers to collect driver safety and training data for drivers trained on both general and ATRI-customized scenarios. Finally, the safety performance differences between drivers were analyzed at 6- and 12-months post-training based on the type of simulator training received.

The initial results at 6-months post-training suggested that drivers who received the targeted simulator training had fewer safety incidents over time, but those effects dissipated at the 12-month mark. While driver turn-over may play a role in the declining significance, the white paper suggests that carriers examine the frequency of sustainment training for drivers.

Truck driving simulators provide carriers with the ability to offer a wide variety of training exercises to drivers from the safety and convenience of a classroom. By focusing training efforts on correcting behaviors that have a known correlation to crash risk, carriers can take a proactive step towards preventing future crashes.

ATRI is the trucking industry’s 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research organization. It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system.

What’s the first thing you do when shopping for a big ticket item? You might shop around, ask friends and relatives for their opinion or compare items online. In today’s world of instant online access to a wealth of consumer information – from online reviews to info graphics comparing products, product websites and online shopping sites – consumers are used to finding and comparing information online before they buy.

Thanks to VA’s new GI Bill® Comparison Tool, you can now find information online about Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and the schools and training programs available to education beneficiaries. Before this tool launched, estimating how much beneficiaries may receive under the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit was challenging. The new comparison tool makes it easy to estimate Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits with just one click.

In addition, you can find and compare information on our 10,000+ approved education and training programs, including estimated tuition and fee amounts and your projected housing allowance. Also available are each school’s graduation rate, student loan default rate and Yellow Ribbon participation. Together, the GI Bill benefit estimator and school comparison information enable students to compare education options and make the best decision for their future. In the future, VA will add additional functionality to the tool, including the ability to compare up to three schools side-by-side.

Lobbying & Policy

Thompson Coburn’s bipartisan lobbying team connects public and private entities with policymakers at the highest levels of government, including the U.S. Congress, the White House, and federal agencies. Over the course of their distinguished careers, our lobbying and policy professionals have forged deep connections in Washington. Our team has longstanding experience working on federal legislation, regulations, and enforcement in the areas that critically affect businesses of all types, particularly those in higher education.

Thompson Coburn Lobbying & Policy serves you by becoming your strategic education policy partner in Washington. Through our relationships with educational institutions, associations, policymakers, and thought leaders, we can help you design and implement education policy initiatives, provide introductions, and build supporting coalitions. We can also help you stay up-to-speed on the political issues affecting your education sector priorities through our network and with our customized systems for research, due diligence, and legislative tracking. Our team is immersed in politics and policy, and we can help you navigate your way through the new education economy.

Why Thompson Coburn?

Thompson Coburn LLP has 375 attorneys practicing nationwide in more than 40 areas of law. In Washington, D.C., our Federal Practice Group represents our clients’ interests in a wide variety of industries before agencies of the United States government. Across all of our offices, we serve a diverse client base that ranges from high-net-worth individuals and venture-backed startups to Fortune 100, Fortune 500, and mid-market companies to municipal and public sector entities on a national, regional, and international scale. Thompson Coburn was recently named as one of the top 30 firms in the nation for client service in 2014 by BTI Consulting, which also named the firm among the nation’s top firms at providing exceptional value.

Please remind your employees and members CRAYONS CAN SAVE LIVES, TOO! There is still time for their children, neighbors, and friends to participate in the annual “Be Ready. Be Buckled.” Kids’ Art Contest. They can also sponsor a classroom or school. The contest runs through March 15, 2014.

As a collaboration between FMCSA and the CMV Safety Belt Partnership, the art contest is for children in grades K - 6 (ages 5-12) with relatives in the truck and bus industries (or more simply…you). The contest focuses on urging truck, bus and all drivers to buckle up to save lives and reduce injuries.

Winning contestants will be invited to visit Washington, DC, with their parents on Monday, May 5, to participate in recognition activities at USDOT Headquarters and the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. Two grand prize winners, one from grades K-2 and one from grades 3- 6, will be presented with framed replicas of their artwork, a certificate of appreciation signed by Secretary Foxx and Administrator Ferro, and a monetary award courtesy of some of the CMV Safety Belt Partners. Ten artists receiving an Honorable Mention will also be featured in the 2014 CMV Safety Belt Planner along with the two grand prize winners and presented with a certificate of appreciation.

Encourage kids to get creative as they remind truck and bus drivers to buckle up!

A new study confirms that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) is more effective at identifying commercial bus and truck companies of all sizes for targeted enforcement than the system it replaced. Researchers analyzed the association between historical carrier data and future crash involvement by taking two years of pre-SMS safety data for a subset of carriers, running it through the system’s algorithm, and then following those companies’ crash records for eighteen months. Results show that the companies the SMS would have identified for interventions, such as roadside inspections, warning letters and on-site investigations, had a future crash rate of more than double the national average. In addition, 79 percent of the carriers that SMS would have ranked as high risk in at least one of the seven safety categories it monitors, had higher future crash rates compared to those it would not have identified. SMS is a component of the agency’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program, which was launched in 2010 to identify and prioritize motor carriers that pose the highest threat to public safety for enforcement interventions. The study was conducted by the Volpe Center and peer-reviewed by independent experts.

CVTA attended the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC) meeting on Monday and Tuesday. The meeting's purpose was to discuss and prioritize their recommendations to Congress as Congress prepares for the upcoming Highway Transportation Reauthorization bill. A number of proposals were discussed, including Entry Level Driver Training, but it did not receive a majority of votes to be included in the top 10 recommendations. For additional coverage, please see CCJ's article here.

As the President addresses the nation tonight in his State of the Union speech, we want to update our membership on a number of items that the Legislative & Regulatory Committee is working on and items for you to consider as we progress through the year.

The Legislative & Regulatory Committee has identified a number of current and future policies such as Third Party testing/ State CDL testing inconsistencies, and government funding available to students which are important to CVTA members. In our latest call, we discussed potential CVTA policy positions on these and other issues. The Legislative & Regulatory Committee will put these positions forth to the Board of Directors, and they will determine the official CVTA position on each issue.

I’m talking about the one that everyone looks to for leadership in tough times; the one who models the traits of what the ideal employee behaves like for the organization.

The Alpha sets the default behaviors for the rest of the office even if the employee handbook says something entirely different... particularly in these areas:

Checking your personality at the office door

Truly disconnecting from email while you’re on vacation

Talking about your personal life at work

Experiencing shame for not having the perfect answer

Keeping your head down and pay your dues

Making bold offers for change

Also the Alpha sets the tone for every staff meeting, influences the outcome of every significant project, and has a major impact on performance in meeting their annual goals.

People look up to the Alpha and most look to them as someone who has it dialed in and is doing things “right”.

They’re often a symbol of greatness for what they “could be” one day.

But there’s a downside.

What the Alpha Used to Be

When I started my career, the Alpha was the professional who dominated the conversations, got their way, and crushed by the opposition.

They’d work their way to the top by self-sacrifice (as well as sacrificing a few careers of others).

Their road to the corner office was paved with the blood of direct reports they stepped on as well as other executives they’d forced out through early retirement, RIF’s, and dramatic re-orgs.

Life as the Alpha was full of paranoia. There was always a young buck lurking somewhere down the totem pole waiting to take your place.

To remain the Alpha you had to defend yourself daily and that sets off an immense amount of undesirable stress. I can personally remember being afraid to go on vacation because I was concerned that someone would “steal” my new account right from underneath me or hijack credit for my successful project.

This path served its purpose and wasn’t all bad.

But now thankfully there is something more powerful emerging in the Corporate World…

The Emergence of the New Alpha

The reign of the Alpha as we know it is coming to an end, and welcoming the rise of a new kind of professional….

The Old Alpha:

was isolated

saw everyone as a potential threat

obsessed over making strategic moves in the bureaucratic political structure of the organization

They experienced the Office as a chess match.

The New Alpha:

builds alliances

seeks collaboration

focuses on grass roots movements

and making bold offers

They see the Office as a place of possibility.

The New Alpha doesn’t focus on getting to the top, then defending their position; instead they focus on making an impact in their current role and letting the chips fall where they may.

They recognize if they don’t reach the level they want, they’ve got leverage and plenty of options.

The New Alpha gets a good night sleep while the Old Alpha stays up at night stressing over what move they’ve got to make next to stay afloat.

And in case you’re wondering, I’ve been both…

The 21 Traits of the New Alpha

I’ve been putting a lot of thought into this, and I think you’re going to find this helpful.

Here are the 21 Traits of the New Alpha at the Office.

Identify which ones you find in yourself and then identify the ones you’d like more of:

1. Grit – Recognizes that life’s not always easy and doesn’t expect it to be. When life gets tough they don’t throw the towel in and say “that’s just the way it is”. They respond with “it’s just a matter of time”.

2. Laughs (at themselves) – It’s almost impossible to make fun of the Alpha because no one can make fun of them like themselves. They have no problem making jokes at their own expense.

3. Optimistic – They’ve learned to be optimistic about working in Corp despite the red tape and frustration. They know that optimists are higher achievers and have better health. They realize that learned optimism is real and that you’ve got to work at it.

4. Negotiates (in every moment)- The Alpha doesn’t just accept anything on their to-do list. They rarely deal in “yes” or “no”. They understand that there’s always a window to create a win-win versus win- lose.

5. Listens Deeply – They practice listening for the real story behind the story.

6. Self-Knowledge- They’re fully aware of their own strengths, passions, and values. This knowledge allows them to make confident decisions about their career and know when to ask for help.

7. Leads (before They’re Ready) – They show up at work acting like the boss even before they’re appointed to the position. They embody the mindset of the business owner even from their cubicle walls versus being stuck the mindset of the employee.

8. Speaks up – They’re not afraid to call out the elephant in the room. Speaks openly about the taboo, insidious issue infecting the office (burnout, working conditions, a crushing work load)

9. Vulnerable – Being vulnerable and laying it on the line is one of the most courageous things you can do at the office. It’s the Alpha’s secret weapon for connecting in almost any situation.

10. Tells a Good Story – They believe in the value of a well told story and don’t let knit-pick facts get in the way.

11. Generous – Seeks to serve first before seeking gain. The Alpha points out the strengths and contributions of others yet is not afraid to toot their own horn as well.

12. Maintains Integrity – They know deep down that they must keep their integrity of everything else doesn’t amount to much.

13. Lifts up Others – Only crushes them when playing on the corporate basketball and softball team.

14. Takes Initiative – They move a head in spite of their own fear to solve the problem plaguing the office. They starts “doing” when everyone else is still waiting for permission.

15. Rests – The Alpha doesn’t judge himself/herself or others for resting long and hard. In fact, they look up to fellow employees that can ignore the judgement and call it an early night.

16. Seeks Collaboration – They can go it alone but find joy in working with collaborators.

17. Intelligent Risk Taking (and knows which risks to take) – They recognize a smart gamble when they see one and take pride in going for it.

19. Maintains Mentors – The Alpha identifies strong mentors along the way. They know they have blind spots no matter how far they rise.

20. Authentic – The Alpha hates compartmentalizing life. They finds work much easier and more fulfilling when they bring their entire self to work. A bright spot in their day is modeling this for others.

21. Humility – The Alpha believes in karma and finds grounding and comfort in “this to shall pass”

As a next step, write down the top 1 Alpha trait the resonated with you.

Write it down on a post-it note and keep it beside your computer as a reminder of what you’d like to bring to your work day.

We have been notified about the following from both Western Pacific Truck School and TransAm Trucking:

Michael Phillips called a school saying he is with TransAm Trucking and needs 3 drivers this week and 10 next week, offering $1500 sign on bonus and Insurance after 90 days. Phone 817-921-3431, he spoke to several students last couple days but now the phone number goes to a clinic for refills on medications.

Please be sure to remind your students to be very careful with the information they provide over the phone.

We were taking some key points from a book a couple of weeks ago by Robert K. Cooper..and discussing “direction, not motion.”

Well, that takes an incredible amount of FOCUS, but not time .

Look at this way this way:

If you’re in an open well-illuminated room, you see details and find your way around the room easily. And, if there’s a steel door at the other end of the room, you see how to get there, the type of door handle and even how to open it.

But consider this… what if that big steel door is locked?

Well then, it doesn’t really matter how long time-wise the light is on in the room, you’re not getting through the door without a key. But, what if you could focus all the light in the room into a super-small beam of light — a laser? You could take that focused light and cut your way right through the door.

A little bit of sci-if there, but I hope you get the point. It’s the power of FOCUS.

So, it’s confession time: I tend to spend a lot of time in front of the computer. Just being there makes my brain think I’m working, even if that’s not really the case. I spend a lot of time in the office “working,” often. But I’m truly not as focused as I could be. Sometimes I check email too often … or do important but not urgent tasks … instead of bearing down and focusing on the project that’s due next. That’s my ADD kicking in and I’ve talked before in these columns about the 20 minute program that works effectively for me, when I let it.

Everybody has their own way of doing it. We all know how to focus. Work in 30-minute intervals … no email … turn off social media … let the dishes sit … etc. The real trick, is simply deciding to actually focus.

Looking through Cooper’s book, here’s the kicker …

According to Dr. Cooper, to be effective, you must learn how to focus “in advance and [emphasis mine] as it unexpectedly appears.” What I think that means is that before you ever walk into your office or open your laptop, decide which project you will focus on … and for how long.

And, when unexpected things pop up, you must learn how to decide quickly whether or not to focus on the new situation or continue your work. That choice relates to the first point the book brought up, the direction you want to go.

For instance, if I am working on a project and a call comes in with something to be done, do I stop and jump? For me, the answer may be a no or it may be a yes depending on the nature of the request , but mostly it would be a no. In fact, if I’m in my 20 minute cycle, my door is usually closed and everyone knows me well enough to leave me alone. That way, the temptation is avoided to jump to a new project.

This is only possible because I decided in advance what was a priority and what deserved my focus at the moment. I am the only one who gets to decide who gets my focus. Period. Sound idealistic? Sound impossible? That’s for you to decide.

So What?! (ahh..there it is again…)

Here’s something practical you can do to increase focus. It’s something I’ve done for years. Try it this week to see if it helps you, too …

At the end of your work time, sit down and take five minutes to write out a list of five to six things you need to get done the next day. Not next week or next month. The next DAY.

Then, prioritize them. And, I mean actually write down the order in which they need to be done to get you moving in the direction you want to go. By doing this the night before, you give your subconscious brain a chance to start working on the list while you sleep.

And, it will be much easier to focus because you’ve already decided what needs to be done and in what order. Now, it’s just a matter of checking off the list.

Get Out of Your Own Way by Dr. Robert Cooper. His book outlines issues on Capacity, Energy and Impact…all with great lessons on how to live YOUR life better…